Bolt hosts a driver-led Safety Summit in Ghana in commitment to safety and community engagement

Bolt, the leading on-demand platform in Africa, has hosted a Driver-Led Safety Summit in Accra, Ghana. This event culminates the series of discussions that Bolt has had with key industry stakeholders and underscores Bolt’s commitment to foster a culture of safety, responsibility, and community engagement within the transportation industry.

The Driver-Led Safety Summit, titled ‘Safe for All: Navigating the Future of Ride-Hailing’ happened at the Holiday Inn Hotel, and brought together drivers, industry regulators, law enforcement officials, safety experts, and community leaders to discuss and implement measures aimed at enhancing road safety for all.

“ACP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, representing the Inspector General of Police, conveyed commendations to Bolt for the inaugural driver-led safety summit. She expressed appreciation for the invitation to discuss safety best practices in the transport sector and commended Bolt for its commitment to prioritising the safety of both drivers and riders. A notable aspect is Bolt being the first ride-hailing operator in Ghana to actively engage with drivers to address safety concerns in such a big forum. The police look forward to ongoing collaboration with Bolt to enhance safety on its platform and working in tandem with our dedicated drivers, we will fortify safety measures, safeguard lives, and significantly improve safety on our roads.”

Abraham Zato Deputy Director of Research, Business Development and Innovation at DVLA “emphasised the pivotal role of collaborative efforts in enhancing safety within the ride-hailing industry. He stated, ‘Safety is not a solitary endeavour; it’s a collective responsibility that requires collaboration between platforms, drivers, and regulatory bodies. The commitment showcased by Bolt in fostering such collaboration is commendable and sets a positive precedent for the industry.'”

“Highlighting the critical significance of technology and community engagement in advancing safety standards within the swiftly evolving transportation sector, Kwabena Asare Mintah, Manager of Regulations, Inspection, and Compliance at the National Road Safety Authority, emphasised the importance of addressing infrastructure concerns raised by drivers. Specifically, he acknowledged their feedback on issues such as street light repairs and assured the drivers that the NRSA is committed to taking prompt action.”

George Annan Kesson Jnr, representing the Ghana Online Driver Union at the Driver-led Safety Summit, emphasised the core safety demands of drivers, highlighting the need for rider verification and significant improvements to road conditions, including the repair of street lights. These key enhancements, according to him, would contribute significantly to fostering a safer environment for both drivers and riders in the ride-hailing sector.”

The Driver-Led Safety Summit’s agenda included a series of interactive workshops, panel discussions, and informative sessions. Topics covered ranged from both rider and driver safety, road safety best practices as well as addressing challenges faced by drivers and law enforcement in ensuring safety on the road.

Key initiatives explored at the Summit include:

● Rider Verification with the Ghana Card: Implementing a rider verification process that leverages the Ghana card for enhanced safety and security.
● Card Option for New Riders at Night: Offering the option for new riders to use a card for transactions during nighttime trips, further bolstering safety measures.
● Enhanced Safety Communications: Launching a robust safety communications campaign to raise awareness among both drivers and riders about best practices and safety guidelines.
● Utilisation of Dash Cams: Encouraging the use of dash cameras to document and deter any untoward incidents during trips.
● Flagging High-Risk Areas: Identifying and highlighting high-risk areas to drivers and riders to exercise caution.
● Security Training: Providing comprehensive security training to equip our drivers and riders with the necessary skills to handle challenging situations effectively.

Weyinmi Aghadiuno, Senior Public Policy Manager, West Africa said: “At Bolt, we recognise safety as a collective responsibility, with our driver partners being integral to our service. Their welfare is our top concern. Through collaboration with drivers and key regulatory bodies such as DVLA, NRSA, and The Police, we are committed to fostering open dialogue, providing education,improving our safety features, and working together to enhance road safety in Ghana. This summit serves as a vital platform for sharing insights, exchanging ideas, and collectively striving to ensure the safety of all stakeholders within the ride-hailing ecosystem. Bolt will rise to action and work towards implementing these initiatives”

The Driver-Led Safety Summit serves as a pivotal moment in the ongoing collaboration between Bolt, the industry regulator DVLA and The Police, reinforcing their commitment to improving road safety in Ghana.