Accra, Ghana, last week joined Uber’s booming network in Africa just a week after the company had launched in Kampala, Uganda as the 462nd city on it’s global network.
The Ghanaian Ministry of Transport entered into a Statement of Understanding (SoU) to officially welcome the San Francisco based transport startup.
At the launch, Uber was privileged to have Hon. Fifi Kwetey the Minister for Transport and the Ambassador of the United States to Ghana, Robert Porter Jackson to sign the SoU along with Alon Lits, the General Manager for Uber Sub-Saharan Africa.
The agreement takes note of the discussions that have been started with the Ministry on growing the shared economy and the benefits of efficiency and competition that will be passed onto every day Ghanaians in the form of increased choice and lower costs.
Ghana becomes one of the first countries on the continent to sign this type of agreement
The SoU is a start in producing a new, forward-looking regulatory framework that allows for ride sharing technology and regulates its use and adoption by both riders and the individual drivers and companies that use it to source business.
Uber’s technology has the potential to reduce the number of cars on the road and create thousands of economic opportunities across Accra.[related-posts]
General Manager Sub-Saharan Africa for Uber, Alon Lits said in a statement that, “The SoU is a fantastic first step for Ghana to become a smart city of the future and shows the critical role technology will play in creating thousands of economic opportunities for Ghanaians as well as assisting in reducing congestion on roads.”
“Ghana is a top priority for Uber and we are excited about this agreement to update regulations, drive innovation, create thousands of entrepreneurship opportunities, and provide safe, reliable transport options for the people of Ghana.” Alon concluded
