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Cabbies in one of the most expensive cities in Africa decry competition ride-hailing app

Thousands of taxi drivers in Ghana are protesting against what they believe is unfair competition from Uber to their business

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Uber a 1990 San Francisco start-up, has been banned in Brussels and faces court scrutiny in Berlin.

Their taxi booking service has been hugely controversial, due to regular taxi drivers claiming that the taxi app wages unfair competition to them.

Uber entered the transport market in Ghana a year ago and cabby operators , especially in Ghana's capital have been vociferous about protecting their business from the mobile app.

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Francis Appiah, Public Relations Officer of the Committed Drivers Association of Ghana  who spoke to Business Insider SSA ,said the introduction of Uber taxi services in Ghana is driving cab drivers out of business.

This he explains has brought about a drop in sales since the emergence of the service in the country.

He adds that insurance premiums being paid by the company is much lower than that demanded of local drivers because of the use of private cars for Uber services.

This, he said, allowed Uber taxis to charge relatively lower fares, thereby having an edge over conventional taxis.

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Other drivers that Business Insider SSA engaged leveled allegations on the mobile up for not abiding by Ghana’s road safety regulations.

"The use of private cars for commercial purposes by Uber was a clear violation of Ghana’s road safety regulations, however, authorities have turned a blind eye to the practice".

These drivers also say some Ghanaians fronted for Uber app dealers to enable them gain access to the local market.

“They don’t pay income tax, they don’t pay for embossments, but we the taxi drivers do pay. Taxi drivers also possess AMA embossment licences and stickers, but they [Uber taxis] don’t have them. Again, because they mostly use private cars to do their business, the insurance they pay is much lower than what the commercial drivers pay, they fumed".

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