Not too long ago, many Ghanaians were accustomed to either using the traditional taxi and ‘troski’ as the main means of transportation to get around.
Characterized by long walks to taxi stations or bus stops, lengthy waits in queues, many stops and detours and arbitrary high fare charges, this was the reality for the average Ghanaian who could not afford to buy or rent a car of their own.
In such situations, the essence of time and the adage that ‘time is money’ becomes ever more so relevant. With such scenarios playing out time and again, it would always be difficult to plan one’s day with regards to commuting.
With time, we have seen many investments to build a sustainable and convenient transportation system in the country from a public and private sector perspective and at the fore of these many solutions is Bolt, the leading ride-hailing platform in Ghana.
The ride-hailing service which started operations in Ghana in 2017 came with a value proposition of seeking to make people’s lives and cities better and so far, one cannot fail to see that indeed the services the company is providing is improving the lives of many Ghanaians.
From drivers who can earn as much as GHS4,000 a month to customers who can take control of their time and money from real time updates on all Bolt rides.
When it comes to convenient transportation, it is key to remember that connection from the country’s epicenter to various parts of the country is key to ensuring economic inclusion and the convenience that comes with moving individuals as well as goods and services from one point to another, albeit in an affordable, safe, and sustainable manner.
Leading the way, Bolt Ghana has expanded its operations and services from Accra, to Cape Coast, Kumasi, Takoradi, and recently Koforidua. Not only does this ensure that many Ghanaians are not left out of the journey towards a more convenient future for transportation in Ghana, but it also helps provide jobs outside of the already saturated job market in Accra to other parts of the country.
This is a sure way to contribute towards improving the economical conditions of the country as well as drivers of the Bolt ride-hailing service who are beneficiaries of a Bolt Driver Reward Programme.
This programme, according to Bolt, was introduced to encourage drivers to provide exceptional trips and services to riders and in turn stand a chance of winning many prizes including a brand-new car to give them the opportunity of owning the cars they use to provide services.
Currently, Bolt drivers in Accra and Kumasi receive 75% commission of all fares paid by passengers with Takoradi and Cape Coast drivers receiving 80% commission – a significantly higher percentage than what drivers using other similar platforms receive.
All drivers can choose how many hours they drive, there are no monthly dues, and they can work in whichever areas they want to. Drivers’ cars must be a 2003 vehicle model or newer.
Fast forward, one cannot fail to recognize the huge economic impact Bolt Ghana is having on the Ghanaian economy through convenient transportation especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. In a research paper “Uptake in on-demand ride-hailing…” a survey involving 1100 commuters showed that there were statistically significant differences in mode preferences prior to, and during the outbreak of COVID-19 in urban Ghana. Results suggest that more people (59.0%) were willing to opt for on-demand ride-hailing during the pandemic, in comparison to the 30.0% that would have opted for it prior to the pandemic.
From customers to drivers, everyone is a beneficiary of the ride-hailing company’s commitment towards safe, affordable, and sustainable transportation in Ghana.
Safe to say Bolt Ghana is leading the way through its expansion project and they deserve the title of the leading ride-hailing service in Ghana.
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