ACDI-GH, GHANADRIVE to submit ‘Okada’ training proposal to DVLA

The Association of Certified Driving Instructors of Ghana (ACDI-GH) and the Ghana National Association of Driving Schools (GHANADRIVE) have been tasked with presenting a proposal to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) on the training of commercial motorbike riders, popularly known as ‘okada.’

This follows a joint courtesy call by the leadership of both associations on the new Chief Executive of DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, and his Deputy, Foster Akwesi Asante, in Accra on Friday, February 14, 2025. The meeting served as a familiarization visit and a platform to discuss industry-related concerns while reaffirming their commitment to collaborating with DVLA to uphold high driving standards in Ghana.

Speaking after the meeting, the President of GHANADRIVE, Rev. Erasmus Amankwah, confirmed that the associations had been directed to prepare and submit a proposal on the structured training of ‘okada’ riders to facilitate their licensing for commercial operations.

“He (CEO of DVLA) actually mandated us to submit a proposal of which we are going to do and submit as soon as practicable,” Rev. Amankwah stated.

He further emphasized that ensuring road safety is a collective responsibility, requiring the cooperation of all stakeholders.

“When we talk about road safety, we’re talking about enforcement. We are handling the education aspect, and we know the other side of enforcement also belongs to the police MTTD. So, we can’t actually take the blame or the challenge alone; it’s a shared and collective responsibility,” he explained.

Marshall Bobobee, National President of ACDI-GH, stressed the need to reconsider the criminalization of ‘okada’ operations and instead focus on proper regulation.

“I think we should be asking ourselves whether there is a need for us as a country to legalize ‘okada’ and how well this can be done,” he remarked.

He pointed out that while ‘okada’ remains illegal, it continues to provide employment and contribute significantly to Ghana’s transportation system, despite the absence of proper regulation and safety training.

“Truth is we all say ‘okada’ is illegal in Ghana, but we all know that the illegality is providing jobs to many Ghanaians and complementing our commuting needs. However, they are left on their own with no proper safety education and training, which raises a lot of safety concerns.

"Additionally, ‘okada’ has created a lot of jobs but no government can claim that job creation, and no taxes are paid to government from the huge revenues the business generates because we claim to have banned it. It is time for us to hold the bull by the horn, by training them, regulating and managing them professionally, and ensuring we are all safe on the road,” he added.

With the directive from the DVLA, the submission of the proposal is expected to pave the way for formal discussions on how to incorporate ‘okada’ into the legal transport system while ensuring safety and compliance with regulations.