The government has emphasised that the safety and welfare of riders and passengers remain the top priority as it begins a nationwide consultation to review Legislative Instrument (LI) 2180, aimed at formalising the operations of commercial motorcycle (okada) services.
“Our utmost priority is the safety and welfare of the riders and passengers. Therefore, some provisions in the regulations will cover the mandatory use of helmets, periodic inspections, and rider training,” Minister for Transport Joseph Bukari Nikpe stated at the consultative meeting, which marked the first step in the national review process.
The session brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), the Okada Riders Association, heads of relevant agencies and departments, industry practitioners, civil society organisations, and transport operators.
The proposed amendments include a provision that stipulates: “A person shall not ride or operate a commercial motorcycle or tricycle unless that person is employed by or belongs to a licensed commercial motorcycle or tricycle transport union.”
Violators of this provision, once it becomes law, would be committing an offence and face sanctions.
The penalties include a fine of 100 penalty units, a prison sentence, or both for operating a motorcycle or tricycle for fare-paying passenger services without compliance.
The move is part of broader efforts to regulate the thriving okada business, which has become a significant source of employment for many young people in the country.
Source: mynewsgh.com
