The Vice-President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has said that the era where commercial drivers cheat their car owners by sharing revenue generated from the daily operations of the vehicle 50-50, would soon be a thing of the past, following the introduction of “Tap n Go” App, a technology meant to revolutionise commercial transport service in the country.
Additionally, he said the era where commercial vehicle assistants (mates) cheat their drivers by also pocketing part of the daily sales would also be a thing of the past.
The seeming conflict that arises between passengers and drivers-mate over fare charges and changes, he added, would totally be eliminated with the introduction of the Tap n Go App.
The Vice-President made these observations in Accra on Monday, February 19, 2024 when he launched the Tap n Go App for Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL). He also commissioned 25 new VDL buses to augment the operations of the quasi-government transport operator.
“With today’s launch of Tap n Go for Metro Mass intercity transit services, we are moving into a new digitalised public transport system where our journeys begin with a simple tap; where every seat on the bus is just a click away; where the hustle of cash transactions fade into oblivious; where there will be transparency between car owners, drivers and mates and more importantly, where there will not necessarily be the need to carry cash to access public transport.
“What is clear is that with the Tap n Go card, you can top it up with money from your momo account onto the Tap n Go card and when your momo account is low and have money on your Tap n Go card, you can transfer money from your Tap n Go card to your momo account. So, what we are doing is not a distant dream, it is our reality being possible by young talented Ghanaians as well as hard working and determined stakeholders within the transport sector in collaboration with my office”, he explained.
He added, “the Tap n Go project seeks to build a single system, a common platform for the entire transport echo system. That is for inter and intra-city bus services, the trotros, the loading taxi service and the call on demand uber-like service. The solution is to provide a single transport card for all commuting payments in Ghana, hence, the Tap n Go system which was developed locally”.
The Tap n Go is designed to ensure ease of use for both drivers and the general public through a virtual or a card preloaded with cash or through the Tap n Go App which is loaded on a phone.
Serving as an inclusive platform for all types of public transport service in Ghana, the Tap n Go aims to revolutionize the country’s transport service experience by helping curb some of the age-old problems associated with its public transport system.
Corruption, mistrust between drivers and driver-mates and vehicle owners as well as the hustle of cash transactions causing needless delays over fare change are all addressed with the use of the App which was developed locally. The Tap n Go App, he revealed, would also be introduced to rail transport service.
According to Dr. Bawumia, before the Tap n Go App was implemented, MMTL was losing 50% of its revenue annually.
“So, there was ky3mp3 (equal sharing of the spoils) in its operations. The people take 50% and give 50% to the government. But since the Tap n Go was implemented, we have seen that that leakage has been plugged and today revenue that Metro Mass Transit was making on intercity route from 200 buses is more than the revenue it was making from 500 buses before. It tells you there was a major revenue leakage and this leakage was threatening the very survival of Metro Mass Transit”, he noted.
He explained that with Tap n Go the revenue goes directly into the bank accounts of the transport operator and in the process, gains the trust and confidence of the banks to even be willing to give them credit for their operations.
He noted that the government now has a lot of confidence in the operations of MMTL and would go all out to strengthen its balance sheet by converting its debt into equity.
Dr. Bawumia also assured that the government would this year order 100 electric vehicles to boost the operations of Metro Mass Transit. These buses would be used for intra-city services.
The Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, in a brief remark said the government remains committed and would continue to pursue and support initiative such as the Tap n Go to further improve the transport sector.
He said introduction of the App has transformed the vision of Metro Mass Transit Limited into a tangible reality and positioned it at the forefront of digitalized innovation.
“This, indeed, is a new face of digital revolution and soon to join are other transport organizations including the GPRTU, and the Ghana Transport Coordinating Council. As we embark on this transformation journey, I urge all passengers and the general public to embrace and leverage on the capabilities of Tap n Go.
Together, let us define the future of public transport and ensure that every passenger enjoys the seamless, connected and efficient travel experience. Any investment in the transport sector is a prudent investment”, he noted.
The Managing Director of Metro Mass Transit, Albert Adu Boahen in his welcome remarks explained that data generated by the Tap n Go App provides invaluable insights into commuter behavior and preferences.
“We can analyse usage patterns, identify peak travel times, and tailor our services to better meet the needs of our customers. This data-driven approach will help us to optimize route operations, allocate resources more effectively, and ultimately enhance the commuter experience”, he noted.
Additionally, he said the Tap n Go represents MMTL’s unwavering commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, stressing that “our success hinges on our ability to adapt and evolve with the times, and this latest initiative is a testament to that philosophy”.
“We are already experiencing the profound change that new technologies bring to the way we live, work, interact and do business. With the use of Tap n Go, Kaneshie Bus terminal became the first in the nation to go completely cashless, and by May 31, 2024 we intend to have all 25 of our terminals going cashless”, he revealed.
By Stephen Odoi-Larbi
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