Tarkwa’s First Ride-Hailing App Arrives With a Mission to Save Lives

Tarkwa just got its very first ride-hailing app. And it comes with a powerful promise: to turn every trip into a lesson in safety.

The app was unveiled at the official launch of the Driver Training Centre (DTC) at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT). But this is not just about convenience. It is about stopping the shocking bloodshed on Ghana’s roads—where vehicles now kill more people than guns.

More Deadly Than Bullets

Samuel Kwofie, Director of Health and Safety at AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Limited, stood before the gathering with numbers that stunned the room.

In the first quarter of 2025, Ghana recorded 53 gun violence incidents, armed robbery, chieftaincy disputes, land guards leading to 72 deaths.

Now compare that to the same period on the roads.

“Within just January and February of that quarter, we recorded 498 deaths,” Kwofie said. “Almost five families wiped out. And we are not even talking about the 3,000-plus injuries or the 5,000 vehicle crashes.”

His conclusion was chilling: “You are more likely to die on our road than to be attacked by a robber or killed by a gun.”

A Painful Memory That Fuels Action

Kwofie recalled a tragedy that still haunts him—an eight-year-old boy named John Wesley, knocked down near Koforidua by a reckless driver speeding at over 80 kilometres per hour in a 50-kilometre zone.

“That picture keeps coming back to me anytime I investigate a traffic incident,” he said. “The pain of his parents… an only child.”

That is why, he explained, the nation needs competent training institutions. And that is why the Driver Training Centre at UMaT has arrived at the perfect time.

“Driving is more than just turning a steering wheel. It is an art that requires patience, skill, and advanced defensive driving techniques.”

The centre promises certified instructors, modern technology, and a mission to send every student out not just with a licence, but with confidence and competence to handle any situation on Ghana’s unpredictable roads.

From Two Vehicles to a Tech Breakthrough

The story behind the centre is one of quiet local growth. Mr. Daniel Adu Gyamfi, Project Manager of Camp-Ride, explained that for three years, his department has served the transport needs of the UMaT community and Tarkwa at large.

“We started with just two vehicles. Today, we have grown into a formidable brand, employing more than seven people,” he said.

In response to overwhelming demand from students and staff, Camp-Ride partnered with UMaT’s Office of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (ORIC) to establish the DTC as a public-private partnership. The centre offers beginner training (theory and practical), manual and automatic vehicle training, and courses for light vehicles and pickups.

The App That’s Already Winning

Then came the announcement that turned heads.

“This year, as part of our plans to modernise Camp-Ride, we are proud to introduce Tarkwa’s first ride-hailing app,” Gyamfi said.

Even without an official launch, the app has been running quietly for two months. The result?

“We have over 600 users on the app. The ratings have been tremendous,” he said, beaming. “It tells you that at this university, something developed by our own staff and students is possible—rubbing shoulders with the likes of Uber and Bolt.”

A Safer Road Ahead

For the people of Tarkwa, the message is clear. A new training centre is raising competent drivers. A new app is offering safer rides. And behind it all is a determination to turn the tide on road carnage.

As Samuel Kwofie put it: “These statistics must move all of us into action.” 

Source: Nana Esi Brew Monney