How de new Gh1 digital transport fee dey worry Ghanaians who dey use Bolt, Uber and others

Passengers wey dey use ride hailing apps like Uber, Bolt and Yango for Ghana start dey pay new digital transport fee.

De ride hailing apps start dey charge Ghc1 as digital transport fee on all complete rides from April 1.

Although de app operators no announce de new charges, some users start dey complain about de fee.

“I no know say something like that dey,” ride-hailing app user Chris talk BBC Pidgin.

“I after I complete my ride, I notice say dem charge me Ghc1 as digital transport fee” he add.

‘DVLA introduce digital transport fee’

Ride-hailing apps for Ghana explain say de decision to introduce digital transport fee dey come from de Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA).

Passengers go pay dis Ghc1 fee on every complete ride dem make to de driver. De driver go in turn send de proceeds to de ride-hailing app who go forward am to govment.

Bolt Ghana explain de reason for de new fee after one Twitter user question dem about.

Bolt Ghana explain say de fee be response to new regulation wey de Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authorities (DVLA) introduce on dia apps.

“Please note say dis be regulation from DVLA to all e-hailing platforms and we for abide by dis since we dey operate according de policies of the country” Bolt Ghana talk.

It is not clear if Ghanaian law permits administrative bodies to impose charges on consumers that are clearly taxes by hiding behind businesses & without any Parliamentary approval, but who is checking?https://t.co/BqXbmKRaUT

— Bright Simons (@BBSimons) April 4, 2023

Social media users dey react to dis new fee

One concerned user for Twitter who dey against de new fee talk about how consumers go pay more taxes.

“So if I want to pay with momo I go pay momo transaction fee, e-levy and digital transport fee. All from salary wey dem already tax.”

Others too dey wonder whether de fee for get parliamentary approval before dem impose am on consumers or not.

“E no not clear if Ghanaian law dey allow administrative bodies to impose charges on consumers that clearly be taxes by hiding behind businesses without any Parliamentary approval, but who dey check,” Bright Simmons talk.

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