Uber Ghana, the local representatives of transportation network company, has stated that they are maintaining their stance of charging  the twenty five percent (25%) commission charged drivers on each trip.

According to the company, the cost of running the Uber app, improving driver and rider experience as well as providing the 24/7 Global Support and state of the art hubs, is from the 25 percent standard service charge.

Hundreds of Uber drivers in Accra issued a two-week ultimatum to the multinational company to address their grievances or they will go on strike.

The drivers, who converged the Ghana International Trade Fair site at La, Accra, on Wednesday May 2, demanded a review of the 25 percent commission to the online transportation company, uber, as well as discount to clients.

In an interview with Citi Business News, General Manager for Uber West Africa, Lola Kassim, stated that the company will not reduce the 25% service charge, since the amount is critical to running the Uber platform across the world.

Madam Kassim indicated that Uber will not be changing the 25% commission soon.

“The service fee on each fare helps us cover the cost of running the application as well as providing top-notch support and also marketing. So this includes things like 24/7 global support that’s available to our drivers and our riders,” she said.

“I think the key thing is we have been open to engaging with our driver partners by organizing driver roundtables to be able to discuss their concerns with the senior leadership of Uber in the country and the region. I would say at this time though that we are not changing the 25% service fee for the above reasons and more,” she stressed.

Lola Kassim is joined in Accra by a high-level management team from Uber West Africa who are engaging in discussions with some Uber drivers to address the recent concerns raised by the drivers.

Head of Communications for Uber in West Africa, Francesca Uriri, who is with the team in Accra, points out that management will meet the drivers soon.

“For example, we are hosting a round table discussion meeting with the drivers on Wednesday May 9, 2018, as well as on Friday. That’s the main reason why the management team came to Accra. We want to engage with the drivers and ensure that we are all on the same page. Uber has more roundtable discussion meetings set up for June with more drivers in Ghana,” she noted.

Uber has been operating in Ghana for about a year now.

Its relatively improved services have led to most commercial transport users resorting to it at the expense of local taxis.