President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans by his administration to amend the traffic and transport laws to legalise commercial motorcycle operations, popularly known as Okada.
The move he explained forms part of efforts to create jobs and improve urban mobility.
He disclosed this when he presented the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) for his second term today, Thursday, February 27, 2025.
He said his administration will implement a four-point plan covering licensing, rider training, safety enforcement, and digital tracking to curb reckless riding and reduce road accidents.
“We cannot ignore the reality; Okada is a source of livelihood for thousands of young people. Our plan is to formalise and regulate it, not criminalise it,” he said.
Background
The president in 2024 promised to legalise ‘okada’ if he was elected, following which he received massive support from the riders.
Speaking to motor riders in Ashaiman on Friday, May 31, 2024, Mr. Mahama stated that the party has included the legalisation of Okada activities in their 2024 manifesto.
“We have in our manifesto that we will legalise ‘Okada”, but we lost the elections, and so that promise was not fulfilled. Our opponents objected to it, claiming Okada activities, if operationalised, will cause accidents.
“They instead promised to take your motorbikes and replace them with cars. Is that not what you were promised? Have you received the cars? It turned 419; we all know that this government is only good at telling lies.
“I stand at Ashaiman here; I know in all the 16 regions you have all your associations. There wouldn’t have been space if all okada riders were invited to Ashaiman; there would have been congestion. I would like to tell those of you present to inform all your unions in the regions that from Ashaiman, I want to declare that we have in our 2024 manifesto that we will legalise okada business when we win the 2024 general elections.
“Know that the door of your freedom will be opened on January 7, 2025, when they swear me in as president.”
“The unemployment rate was 8.5% when I left office in 2016, now it’s 14.7% Under Akufo-Addo-Bawumia’s government. If you were not engaged in okada business, the over 1.7 million something engaged in okada, would have been part of the unemployed, if your business was abolished, the unemployment rate would have jumped higher to 25%.
“In East Africa, they have legalised it and they are working nicely. We can also legalise it, and regulate it in safety and security. When we assume power, we will legalise it. We have riding instructors, so the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) will go to the regions to train you on how to ride safely,” he said.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
