U.S. ride-hailing firm Uber enters Ghana

The U.S.-based multinational online transportation network company, Uber Technologies Inc., has announced its entry into the Ghanaian market.

On its website, the taxi-hailing company announced that it had arrived in Ghana's most economically vibrant hub.

"Accra continues to be a place where businesses are born, and has become one of Africa's fastest growing cities," the statement said.

The company promised free rides between Thursday and Sunday as part of its launching in the West African country.

This makes Ghana the fifth sub-Saharan African country that Uber has entered and the 467th city to receive the service globally.

Alon Lits, General Manager of Uber's sub Saharan Africa unit, assured of the safe, reliable and affordable services Uber provided through its easy to use platform connecting drivers in real time with clients at the touch of a button.

"With over 4 million people using the streets of Accra Metropolitan Area (AMA), there is a clear demand for Uber's services," he said.

Uber was founded in 2009 and began expanding internationally in 2012.

By late 2015, the company was estimated to be worth 62.5 billion U.S. dollars. Endit