A new tech Startup Farassi, is set to introduce a new ridesharing app to create a variety of choices for both riders and drivers (also known as Service Providers [SP] or Community courier [CoCu]) as well as corporate organization in Canada and West Africa.

The founders of the Startup have unveiled plans to introduce the rideshare in four cities; Edmonton and Calgary in Canada, Accra - Ghana and Abuja - Nigeria before the end of 2019.

The App gives power to riders/users and SPs to digitally determine the fare for a trip. Unlike a traditional uber-like app, Farassi uses a complex algorithm to calculate a starting fare which initiates a bargain process between the rider/user (a person requesting for a ride or delivery) and an SP or CoCu.

The App uses centuries old African market transaction method which allows SPs and users to haggle price for the transportation of persons and or goods from one destination to another in a safe and secure way.

The Canadian model will launch with Rideshare and later introduce a delivery component. In West Africa, the technology company will extend the services to include delivery using saloon cars, minivans, motorbikes, bicycles, water tankers, trucks etc.

Also included is our messenger/runner service called Farassi CoCu (Community Couriers) who receive requests from people within the community to move items, example, food, flowers, smaller packages etc. and deliver to a destination by foot, bicycle, motorbike or car.

The company’s vision is to revolutionize the Okada industry with its delivery offerings and utilize the CoCu-Walker model to make deliveries cheap and affordable for every Ghanaian. Using a community-centric approach to utilize resources within the community for the benefit of the community. A Connected Community is a connected responsible Citizen with the ability to utilize technology to improve their lifestyle.

The concept allows a rider/user to name his/her fare and then choose between different offers from a range of SPs/CoCu in the vicinity based on the fare the SP is willing to accept for the trip.

In other words, the app suggests a fare and the riders/users decide whether to accept or propose a new fare. If the rider/user is OK with the fare, he/she books the trip and gets immediately hooked up with a SP.

If the Rider/User is not OK with the initial fare from the app, he/she proposes a new fare (i.e. initiates a bargain process). This fare (bargained) can be accepted right away by the SP or SP proposes a new fare based on the rider’s initial proposal.

The process is swift and happens within seconds. The Rider/User is then connected with an SP who accepts their offer and then the SP heads to the User’s location.

With over 10 million mobile internet users in Ghana and about 34 million handsets as noted by Jumia and MTN Ghana Limited in 2018 and 2019 respectively, the smart phone penetration in Ghana is seeing a promising growth, making it a plausible idea to continue to develop products and services to harness the use of mobile money technology.

The founders believe that Acara, Ghana is becoming a major player in the growing use of smart phone technology and mobile apps in the West African region and it is a ripe region to kick start Farassi in the West African sub region. Mobile phone penetration in Ghana is increasing at a higher rate whiles smart phone usage is growing rapidly in the West African nation.

The penetration is contributing to the use of mobile money in almost everyday activities of the average Ghanaian, from the purchase of food and clothing, to banking and paying of utility and other bills.

We recognise this great niche market and how it can benefit the transportation industry and others that have not seen a heavy usage of mobile money transactions said Jemaine Sakyi, Farassi Project Coordinator, Accra, Ghana.

He gave the assurance that, the use of Farassi will contribute to the smart phone penetration in the country since it touches many facets of the Ghanaian fabric or economy.

In a collaboration between the tech Startup and a local telco company in the west African region, our riders and delivery customers can pay for their services using their mobile money wallets.

This we belief is a safe and secure way of paying for their transportation needs without having to worry about change, which is an issue when using the traditional cash system to pay for a Taxi, said Mr. Sakyi. The good news is that, unlike our competitors, your fare, as bargain is fixed and does not change, added Jemaine Sakyi. The fare you see on the app is what you get to pay.

All one needs to become a Farassi SP is to download the Farassi Service Provider App from Google Play Store, create an account and go through verification and activation. All you need to become a CoCu is a cellphone and drive to earn money at your leisure time.

Joining the Farassi Rider/User community is easy.

1. Login to Google Play Store and Download the User App “Farassi”

2. Open the Farassi App and create an account

3. Let Farassi know your pick-up and drop off locations

4. Pick-Up time

5. The AMOUNT you are willing to pay or bargain for

6. Now relax and wait for the Farassi Magic

Becoming an SP/CoCu

1. Login to Google Play Store and Download the Service Provider App “Farassi Provider”

2. Install, Open App and Register as an SP/CoCu

3. Go Online and be ready to be connected to a Rider/User

4. Now earn money continuously

The User and Service Provider Apps are both on Google play store.

See links below

User App Service Provider App

To find out more about Farassi, visit http://farassi.com