Let’s support Okada legalization and encourage riders to operate lawfully — Ibrahim Adjei

Former Assistant Secretary to the Office of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Ibrahim Adjei, has called on the public to support the legalization of commercial motorcycle operations and encourage riders to comply with the law.

He said the passage of the Road Traffic Amendments Bill, popularly known as the Okada Bill, presents an opportunity to properly regulate the sector while improving safety for both riders and passengers.

Parliament approved the bill on Thursday, December 11, and it has since been forwarded to the Presidency for assent, paving the way for the formal integration of motorcycles and tricycles into Ghana’s transport system.

Speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Monday, December 15, Adjei argued that technology-driven regulation could help enforce safety standards without stifling the livelihoods of riders.

“I imagine we have a law where most vehicles, including motorbikes, can communicate data in real time. That information can help discipline drivers on the road, enforce speed limits and ensure safety, just as we see in countries like Indonesia and Rwanda,” he said.

He explained that such regulation would protect passengers and address earlier concerns that led to resistance against legalising Okada operations, particularly the high rate of accidents and fatalities.

“The bill has been passed, and it’s good. I think all of us should support it because it will encourage Okada drivers to now work within the law, while ensuring that the most important people in this equation — the customers — are protected,” Adjei stated.

The new law introduces safety requirements, including the mandatory use of protective gear, and seeks to bring long-unregulated commercial motorcycle operations under formal oversight.