‘Okada’ now a permanent feature in our transport system –NRSA Boss
According to the NRSA boss, government’s best approach is to regularise motorcycle operations by enforcing strict rules and providing road safety education for riders.
The Director General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Abraham Amaliba, has stated that the commercial use of motorcycles, popularly known as okada, has become a permanent feature of Ghana’s transport system and must be regularised rather than outlawed.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Tuesday September 23, Amaliba explained that the absence of vehicles on many rural roads and the growing demand for affordable transport have made motorcycles the preferred option for many commuters.
“Motorcycle usage for commercial purposes has come to stay because we don’t have vehicles that ply all our roads, there are communities where vehicles pass only once a week, and if it is not a market day, you may not find any vehicle at all. In such places, motorcycles are the only means of transport, so whether you outlaw it or not, it will still exist because there is demand for it, and you cannot do anything about that.”
According to the NRSA boss, government’s best approach is to regularise motorcycle operations by enforcing strict rules and providing road safety education for riders.
He disclosed that the President Mahama-led government intends to organise riders into recognised groups and unions, which would have leaders to monitor and discipline errant members.
“You cannot do that now because the law has outlawed their operations, the only way to get them well-organised is to regularise them and put in place rules and regulations for them to follow.”
Amaliba also raised concerns about reckless riding, particularly among the youth in the Upper East Region, which he said has contributed to the loss of many lives.
“The problem I have noticed is that most of the riders, especially young people, misbehave on the road. It is sad to hear the number of lives being lost through motorcycle crashes. We need to make a personal commitment that riding a motorbike is to help you move from one place to another, not to kill yourself.” He cautioned.
He further urged road users to maintain discipline and warned against the use of substances while riding or driving, stressing that safety must be prioritised at all times.
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