Little, a Pan-African ride-hailing service, has launched its services in Ghana to offer a go-to commuting option for corporate organisations’ employees and individuals at their convenience and at an affordable rate. Little is touted as a highly professional and user-friendly service that provides safe, on-demand rides with various car categories to suit every rider’s unique preference.
Features of Little
Founder and Chief Executive Officer for Little, Kamal Budhabhatti, elaborating on features of the service noted that both corporate and individual riders can have access to an array of car categories to choose from – Basic, Comfort, Comfort+, and Superwoman. He said Little is designed with rider- and driver-safety in mind, and is equipped with security features such as GPS Map Tracking, SOS Emergency Services, Trip Sharing, Service Rating and 24-hours of customer support services.
“Corporate organisations and individuals can also access additional features ranging from Budgeting, Preferred drives, Time and Distance Management, Airport transfers, SOS services and, soon, Shuttle services,” he added.
Director for Little Ghana, Paul Jacquaye, said the start of Little operations in the country is meant to improve transportation services by providing cutting-edge digital services for Ghanaians – and most importantly to corporate organisations. He added that Little, as it has started operations in Ghana, will continue to spread its wings across other African countries to build a formidable African continent.
“For corporates, Little is a comprehensive transportation management system that makes it easy to manage logistics costs at every level of the company, and provides an automated and credible 100 percent audit trail of transportation costs. Employees can ride in comfort and style as they move around town for business. We hope to provide unique services to employees and allow them to enjoy the very little things that make riding more comfortable. As we have started operations here in Ghana, we intend going into other African countries to continue our agenda,” he said.
AfCFTA in motion
The High Commissioner of Kenya to Ghana, H.E. Eliphas Barine – speaking at the launch, which was in partnership with Little Kenya, noted that the introduction of ride-hailing services in Ghana is a step toward unifying the African continent through the free trade agreement, fostering a robust transportation sector, and eradicating poverty on the continent.
He indicated that it is time for Africa to take charge of its own development and drive its narrative, a quest that Little service is embarking on. “Africa must take charge of its own activities and drive its own narrative and development. What we are witnessing now is an African company which has realised t we must put our resources together in order to make a contribution toward that journey; and this business is toward promoting intra-African trade, which is helping to build a thriving continent and limiting poverty through the investment that is coming into the country,” he said.
Ambassador Mrs. Jane Gasu Aheto, Director of Economic Trade and Investment Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in Ghana, said the ride-hailing company has the ministry’s full support as its services are in line with the ministry’s objective of economic diplomacy for the country.
She added that the introduction of Little could not have come at a better time than now when the country hosts the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat, which is seeking all possible ways to take advantage of intra-Africa trade.
“The opening of a branch in Ghana is a manifestation of the AfCFTA’s aspiration. We want to congratulate Little ride company for choosing Ghana as the first country in the West Africa sub-region for their business operations, as there are many opportunities they can tap,” she indicated.
She welcomed the company’s ‘superwoman’ policy that priorities the inclusion of female drivers in the driving pool. “This will not only ensure maximum protection for our gender on both the riders’ and drivers’ path, but also ensure maximum safety and sense of security for women and children users, and empower them economically,” she said.
Mrs. Aheto’s comments were echoed by Emily Mburu-Ndoria, Director of the Directorate of Trade in Services, Investment, IPR and Digital Trade at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat. She stressed the AfCFTA’s importance in driving the continent’s growth and development.
Kafui Dey is Little’s brand ambassador
Renowned radio and television host and Master of Ceremony, Kafui Dey, was unveilled as brand ambassador for the ride-hailing service.
Since its inception, the company has quickly grown from a Kenyan company into a global one with footprints in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, India, Senegal, Uganda, Somalia and now Ghana.
