The Greater Accra Regional Branch of the Digital Transport Workers Union (DTWU) has announced a sit-down strike beginning Thursday, November 5, 2026, over what it describes as unfair working conditions and exploitation by ride-hailing companies.
In a press conference on Wednesday, November 4, DTWU, demanded improved working conditions, fair earnings and enhanced safety measures for drivers and couriers, said persistent concerns over high commission charges, stagnant fares and inadequate protection had pushed its members to take industrial action.
The union accused multinational ride-hailing platforms, including Uber, Bolt and Yango, of imposing excessive commission charges ranging between 30 and 35 per cent per trip.
“Platform companies continue to strip away our hard-earned money, extracting excessive commission fees-often between 30% and 35% per trip,” they said.
According to the union, drivers and couriers bear the full operational costs of their work, including fuel, vehicle maintenance, insurance and licensing, despite receiving a significant portion of their earnings deducted by the platforms.
It further expressed concern over the failure of the companies to adjust passenger fares in line with rising fuel prices, spare parts and the general cost of living, arguing that drivers were being forced to absorb the increasing cost of operations.
The union also raised concerns about the safety of drivers and couriers, citing incidents of car and motorbike jacking, physical assaults, fraudulent rider accounts and encounters with unverified passengers.
It said existing safety features on the platforms were inadequate to protect drivers, calling for mandatory Ghana Card verification for all passenger accounts and functional real-time emergency support systems.
The union also criticised what it described as unfair algorithmic penalties imposed on drivers when passengers cancel trips or when drivers decline trips involving excessively long pickup distances.
“Adding insult to injury, platform algorithms penalizes us unfairly. When a rider cancels a trip, the driver or courier is unfairly penalized in rating or metrics,” they said.
It called on the platforms to end such penalties, arguing that drivers should not be punished for circumstances beyond their control or for making reasonable decisions to protect their earnings.
Among its key demands, are fair commission caps or subscription-based payment models, upward adjustments in passenger fares to reflect prevailing economic conditions, improved safety measures and a formal consultation framework between platform executives and driver associations.
The union further called for an end to unilateral decisions regarding pricing, account suspensions and platform policies, insisting that drivers deserve fair hearings and the right to appeal account restrictions.
As part of efforts to promote what it considers a fairer alternative, the union urged drivers and couriers to consider switching to VaMijo, a locally operated ride-hailing platform which it says offers subscription-based models, transparent payouts and affordable fares.
“Therefore, we urge all drivers and couriers who must stay on the road out of sheer financial necessity, and all valued riders who need transportation to switch immediately to VaMijo,” they said.
It also appealed to passengers to support the platform, arguing that doing so would help protect the livelihoods of Ghanaian drivers and retain value within the local economy.
DTWU, however, acknowledged the economic difficulties facing drivers and passengers but maintained that continuing under the existing conditions would only worsen the financial challenges of its members.
Source: Abigail Ekua Arhin
