Uber today said they will not adjust their 25% service fee the driver-partners in Ghana are complaining about.
It would be recalled that earlier this week, Uber drivers in Ghana went on a strike, demanding a downward adjust of the 25% service charge Uber charges on their daily sales.
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The drivers alleged Uber charges 10% in other countries so the 25% it charges in Ghana is not fair.
But in response to a questionnaire by Adom News, Head of Communications for Uber in West Africa Francesca Uriri debunked the claim saying the 25% service charge is a standard fee across the SSA markets.
The SSA market comprise of Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa and Ghana.
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Francesca Uriri explained that the cost of running the Uber app, improving driver and rider experience and also providing the 24/7 Global Support and state of the art hubs is from the 25% standard service charge.
“While we will not be adjusting the service fee, we’re committed to making Uber the most affordable option to move around and our experience shows us we can make that happen while making Uber the best possible option for driver-partners to earn a living,” she said.
Currently, Uber has over 3 000 active driver-partners and is recording some
140,000 active riders in Ghana, according to Francesca Uriri.
She said that points to the increasing adoption of Uber, not just as a leisure transport option, but also for work and business purposes.
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But some riders have also been complaining of frequent premium rates with the excuse that service demand is high. As a result some regular Uber riders are beginning to opt for cheaper alternatives.
Francesca Uriri explained that “there are times when so many people are requesting rides that there aren’t enough cars on the road to help take them all. Bad weather, rush hour, and special events, for instance, may cause unusually large numbers of people to want to ride Uber all at the same time.
“Dynamic pricing therefore ensures that passengers who want a ride can always get one, because by increasing the price (a) more drivers go to an area and (b) people who don’t want to pay the higher price and have the time can choose an alternative.”
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She said Uber always informs riders about a raise in rates due to dynamic pricing, and some riders choose to pay, while some choose to wait a few minutes to see if the rates go back down to normal.
“Uber is all about choice. We allow riders the right to choose their mode of transport for the first and last mile,” she said.
She assured Ghanaians the Uber will continue to create economic opportunities for the people of Ghana through its regular investment in the app and value offerings on the service.