A member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democractic Congress (NDC), Madam Cecilia Asaga, has disclosed that the party’s 2020 electioneering campaign promise to regulate and legalise the operations of motorbikes for commercial purposes (Okada) in the country, still stands.

According to her, the next NDC government would establish cooperatives for all Okada riders, to enable them access loans and overdrafts for their business.

The Committee member revealed that under the scheme, Okada riders would also be provided with insurance cover and be made to contribute towards their retirement, old age among others.

The NDC 2020 Presidential candidate, former President John Dramani Mahama, made the promise during the 2020 electioneering campaign to regulate and legalise commercial motorbike business if voted into power.

“We will regulate it and we will give them training so that they can do their business safely without causing the lives of people, they must obey all the traffic regulations in order that they be allowed to pursue their profession.”
John Mahama

Madam Cecilia Asaga made these comments when she presented some food items and soft drinks to members of the Okada Riders Association at Borteyman in the Tema West Constituency. The donation was to show her appreciation to the members of the association for their immerse support during her campaign to become a NEC member of the NDC party.

Madam Asaga, who stated that she sometimes patronised the services of okada, emphasized that, she could attest to the fact that it was fast, affordable and its ability to reach inaccessible routes made it a preferred choice and means of transport.

A Means To Create Jobs

Speaking to the Okada riders, Madam Asaga indicated that the next NDC government would create an enabling environment for their business to be legalized, as it would be one of the means to create jobs and solve the massive number of unemployment situation in the country. “If we regulate and legalise the okada business, we wouldn’t need the e-levy because you will willingly pay your taxes and levies, wouldn’t you?” she asked the riders.

Ms Asaga opined that the country is faced with serious challenges when it comes to domestic revenue mobilisation, yet the NPP government does not have a clue as to how they can mobilise revenue domestically

The NDC NEC member disclosed that, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in an attempt to discredit the popular campaign promise of legalising okada stated that they would provide them with taxis on work and pay terms, but that promise did not materialise.

“This is a clear manifestation that the NPP is a deceitful government. Some politicians come to you during an election year to make all manner of promises to you and when they win power, they abandon you. I am not such a politician and the NDC will never abandon you when we win power.”
Madam Asaga

Madam Asaga, further appealed to the Okada riders to vote for the NDC to win the 2024 general elections to bring that promise into fruition.

The use of motorbikes and tricycles for commercial purposes in any form is currently against Ghana’s Road Traffic Regulations 2012 (L.I 2180). Many have said, the safety concerns associated with the use of Okada did not make it a viable mode of commercial transport, hence the ban should be in place.

Okada operators are known to flout road traffic rules; like driving against traffic and running red lights which are major road safety breaches. To reduce the rate of accidents and casualties, the enforcement of the Road Traffic Regulations, 128, 2012 which bars the use of motorcycles or tricycles for commercial purposes aside courier and delivery service have been advocated to still be in full force.