Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has hinted that Ghana’s first local music streaming app will be launched next month. He made the disclosure during a meeting with stakeholders in the creative arts sector on Wednesday, this week.
“I’m very happy to let you know that the work has been completed,” Dr. Bawumia declared to an enthusiastic crowd.
He pointed out the shortcomings of international platforms like Spotify, stating “Spotify and other platforms are externally owned, so it’s not surprising that the payments to our musicians are very little.”
He highlighted the urgent need for a local streaming platform that can adequately showcase Ghanaian talent.
“The issue for us has been to ensure we have a local streaming platform where we can put all the catalogues from A to Z that we can find in Ghana,” he added.
Dr Bawumia also addressed the challenges faced by local taxi drivers who feel threatened by the presence of global ride-hailing giants like Uber, Yango and Bolt.
“Taxi drivers came to complain that they are being pushed out by Uber, Yango and Bolt,” he remarked.
To tackle this, Dr Bawumia announced the development of a digital platform for local taxi drivers.
He explained that the platform would serve as a home-grown alternative to international ride-hailing apps, which have dominated the market in recent years.
The Vice President pointed out that these global companies charge commissions as high as 28%, significantly short-changing Ghanaian drivers.
He noted that this often leaves local drivers with very little profit, making it difficult for them to sustain their livelihoods in the increasingly competitive environment.
With the new digital platform, Dr Bawumia envisions a system that will provide a level playing field for local drivers while reducing the financial burden of high commissions.
“By launching this platform, we’re not just giving local taxi drivers a tool to compete but also empowering them to take charge of their own destinies,” he remarked.
He emphasised that the platform would allow drivers to retain more of their earnings and provide better service to customers.
“We will launch it before the end of this month,” he affirmed, adding that this initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure that Ghanaians benefit more directly from the digital economy.
The Vice President’s commitment to developing local platforms in both the music and transport sectors reflects a broader national strategy to enhance the livelihoods of Ghanaians while promoting home-grown solutions.
By introducing a local music streaming app and a ride-hailing platform, Dr Bawumia is addressing two critical sectors that are being dominated by foreign companies.
His initiative aims to create a more equitable economic landscape where Ghanaian talent and service providers can thrive.
The upcoming launches of these platforms are expected to have far-reaching effects. For musicians, the local streaming app promises to ensure that artistes retain a higher percentage of their earnings, offering a much-needed boost to the creative arts industry.
Similarly, the local ride-hailing platform is anticipated to provide a fairer system for taxi drivers, granting them greater control over their operations and earnings.
These initiatives align with the government’s vision of leveraging technology to empower citizens and build a more self-reliant economy.
“We need to take control over some of these vehicles to maximise the returns,” Dr Bawumia said, reinforcing the idea that localised solutions can help drive sustainable economic growth in Ghana.
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