Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has said, if voted into power on December 7, he will legalize the use of ‘okada’ in the country.
Addressing the chiefs and people of Kpando over the weekend, the former president says he recognizes that the ‘okada’ business is of tremendous benefit to many families who depend on it for survival hence, his intention to legalize its usage.
Meanwhile, the L.I (2180) which makes it an offence to use motorbikes and tricycles for any form of commercial purpose was passed in 2012, during former President Mahama’s administration.
“These young people are living under harassment because it is illegal and so the police harass them; they stop them from time to time and take money off them and all that. And so, my suggestion is that we should legalize it and regulate it to make it safer by training the riders, ensuring that the riders observe all the safety precautions and provide a helmet for the passenger.”
Mr Mahama further indicated that the ‘okada’ is the only means of transport in some parts of the country therefore, his next government will regularize the commercial use of motorcycles so riders can be easily identified to ensure that they go by all traffic regulations.
“We must be able to identify that this is a commercial motorcycle so that we can ensure that they are following the rules and they must obey all traffic regulations. You can’t pick a passenger and get to a red traffic light and ride through. So, I say let’s legalize, let’s regularize because it has created sustainable jobs and people are earning an income out of this.”
However, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), has accused the NDC for being hypocritic about their promise to legalize the commercial use of motorcycles in Ghana.
According to the of Chairman Parliament’s Roads and Transport Committee, Samuel Ayeh-Paye, government is already working on regularizing the use of ‘okada’ adding that, “the riders have petitioned the committee and the committee is going to sit down with them and look at it” therefore, the sudden change of mind is an attempt by the NDC to win the hearts of ‘okada’ riders.
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I’m Deborah Aba Narkoah. I’m an avid reader, writer and public speaker.
, John Dramani Mahama has said, if voted into power on December 7, he will legalize the use of ‘okada’ in the country.){kind=link}