Following the announcement by former President Mahama to legalise the Okada business, there has been mixed reaction to the news. While some have welcomed it saying it will help minimise unemployment among the youth, others are of the view that the legalisation will increase indiscipline on the roads.
Speaking to Ibrahim Kwarteng on GBC’s ‘Behind The News’, the President of the Okada Riders Association, Michael Kofi Owusu said the move will help them perform their job in peace without interference from the Police, adding that, members will follow to the letter all laid down rules that will govern the Okada business.
Meanwhile, the Commercial Drivers Association, a group against the legalisation of the Okada business, says the former President when he was in Power passed an LI to ban okada business.
P.R.O. of the Group, Geoffrey Annan said he is now taking a u-turn because he wants to return to power.
“Our stand is that, the LI that was passed during the time of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama when he was in office. And in that LI, it stated categorically that commercial motorcycling was not allowed in the country. Now, there has been a sudden U-turn by His Excellency to legalise it. Is this a political talk?”
“What we saying is that if you want it to be regularised, there are procedures and processes that you have to go through. So is the ex-president saying it because he has heard or has a hint that maybe the current administration wants to regularize it and he wants to come and then jump the gun?”
In his remarks, the Director of Research at the Road Safety Commission, David Adenten for his part said ‘okadas’ contributed to majority of road accidents and therefore legalising it will have a serious consequence on citizens.
He said currently Ghana is not ready as a country to legalise ‘Okada’ operations because a lot of processes would have to be put in place to legalise it.
READ ALSO
