By Rachel Kakraba
The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has reiterated that prospective commercial motorcycle riders, popularly known as okada riders, who will operate under the newly approved Road Traffic Amendment Law, 2025, are required to meet specific legal and health requirements before they can be registered to operate under any recognised riders’ union.
This is aimed at promoting safety, accountability and professionalism within the country’s commercial motorcycle transport sector, as well as ensuring that only qualified and medically fit individuals are allowed to operate.
Riders are also required to register with a recognised union, which undertakes a formal registration process and updates its records with the National Road Safety Authority, ensuring that every registered rider is captured in the national database for effective monitoring and regulation.
Mr Dennis Yeribu, Principal Planning Manager at the NRSA, speaking during a stakeholder rally on motorcycle helmet standards, speed management and motorcycle safety in Accra, said applicants must be at least 21 years old and belong to a local union.
“Be at least 21 years old, possess a valid national identification card, provide evidence of membership in a licensed commercial road transport organisation, pass a medical examination approved by the licensing authority, and pass a theory test, practical riding test and traffic test.”
He said licences issued will be subject to periodic renewal.
About training
The event was organised by the Legal Resource Centre (LRC), a non-governmental organisation working in road safety, as part of the project “Supporting Advocacy Interventions towards the Passage of the Reviewed Road Safety Act and the Development of Standards on Motorcycle Helmets.” It comes against the backdrop of a staggering rise in road traffic tragedies in 2025 and an increasing surge in fatalities during the first quarter of 2026.
District-level operation permit
Mr Yeribu said the law enables district assemblies to regulate commercial motorcycle transport operations within their jurisdictions. He said that until a rider obtains an operational permit from the relevant district assembly, they cannot operate.
The assemblies, he said, are responsible for designating routes within their districts and providing local safety and traffic management, among others.
Improved rider experience
Mr Yeribu said the formal registration process will help ensure that targeted interventions and educational programmes for riders deliver the intended results.
“We believe that when rider unions are well managed, which will trickle down to their members who are the riders, a lot of the cases we are recording from commercial motor riders will reduce, and we are going to see a significant decrease in the number of collisions involving motor riders in the nation.”
He noted that the full implementation of the law would result in a cadre of well-trained, disciplined and responsible riders, thereby restoring confidence in, especially, pillion riders.
“Those who patronise the services of commercial motor riders are also going to be very comfortable knowing that their riders are going to be identified and also well trained and refreshed every year, so that they will always take them safely to their destinations.”
NRSA caution
Mr Yeribu urged motorists to avoid excessive speeding, wrongful overtaking and drug or drunk driving to reduce road crashes. He also advised riders to always wear protective crash helmets.
“For our riders, we should always be in a protective helmet, because they are able to cut down the risk of death by 40% and the risk of injury by 70%.”
Mr Yeribu identified motor riders as a strong force in the traffic mix and encouraged other road users to accommodate them on the roads.
Alarming statistics
Mr Enock Jengre, Esq., Programmes Officer of the Legal Resource Centre (LRC), referenced NRSA statistics for January to December 2025, in which a total of 2,949 deaths were recorded, representing a 18.2% increase compared to 2024. He said motorcycles were heavily involved in crashes, with 660 motorcycles and tricycles recorded in December alone, with two-wheelers accounting for 74% and tricycles 23% of incidents.
He also noted that according to the Ghana National Fire Service, a total of 130 lives were lost between January and March 2026. During the same period, injuries rose significantly from 500 in the first quarter of 2025 to 932 in 2026.
Mr Jengre said the alarming statistics, coupled with the passage of the amended Road Traffic Law permitting commercial use of motorcycles and tricycles, underscore the need for strong stakeholder engagement to ensure the transition does not worsen the situation.
“We brought them here just to take them through how they can be safe on the road and even the use of motorcycle for commercial enterprise as the law will be kick-starting very soon.”
He added that awareness was also created about standardised motorcycle helmets, urging riders to ensure they purchase approved helmets that meet required standards.
Mr Jengre encouraged riders to join unions, noting that such associations can provide support in difficult situations.
“If they belong to a recognised and registered union, then you can have the collective bargaining power to fight for your rights. In times of harassment, the union leadership could fight for you even if they have to go to court, so we encourage them to belong to a union.”
He dismissed concerns that legalisation would lead to unregulated operations, stressing that the sector would remain properly regulated.
Adhere to traffic regulations
Mr James Morgan, National Road Safety Officer of the Okada Riders Association, urged riders to comply with traffic regulations and avoid using pavements. He also encouraged participants to share knowledge gained from the training with colleagues to promote best practices.
Participants share experience
Some beneficiary motorcycle riders, in interviews with GBC Ghana Online, expressed appreciation to the organisers, describing the training as highly informative and beneficial.
