From My Sentry Post; Okada Has Come To Stay

The current debate surrounding the legalization of commercial operations of motorbike riders (okada), is a non-starter in the eyes of those who can think far. Time and resources should not have been expended on this write-up, if those calling for Okada business not to be licensed, had applied their mind to the issue at stake objectively.

A Police Officer was in the news lately, arguing that the Police Service and the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) have reservations on the question of legalizing Okada operations in the commercial context. He went on to argue that, countries that have legalised Okada, are now regretting doing so. Furthermore, he pointed out that, Okada riders were reckless, careless and all the lawlessness associated with failed systems.

It is submitted without any hesitation whatsoever, that such arguments coming from a Commissioned Police Officer, points to a lack of a non-biased analysis of the issue at stake. In every occupation or profession, there are bad nuts within. Without travelling a distance in search of examples, is the issue of the constant bashing of the Police Service by a section of the Ghanaian public, that some Police Officers take bribes to pervert the course of justice. There is no hard evidence in this regard, but the rumours have refused to go away, despite several denials by the Police Administration. Anas Arimeyaw Anas will settle the issue for us at some point. There have been several reports of some Police personnel engaging in criminal activities like robbery, including robbery of bullion vans.

If a Police Officer is arguing that a certain trade should not be licensed because of a few bad nuts, does it mean because of the bad nuts in all professions, including the Police Service, they should be proscribed? You see the shallowness of the argument put up by the Police Service?

There are countless drivers out there, who disregard road traffic regulations in the presence of the Police, and the Police appear helpless. One needs to just drive on the Winneba-Accra road, and witness the lawlessness on that section of the road. At the Kasoa interchange, the vehicle equivalent of Okada, thus trotro, which we may have to rename as ‘Otrotro’, because from a rational point of view, per the arguments churned out by the Police Service and the NRSC, is there any difference between the total disregard for road traffic regulations by so-called commercial drivers who do not know what ‘automatic transmission’ stands for, yet have the guts to point at a particular make and model of a vehicle, and say, ‘kar wei enye’ (this car is not good in twi)? If disregard for road traffic regulations is the only plea being put up by the Police Service in their stand against legalizing Okada, then on a true and proper application of their argument, then ‘Otrotros’ and all professions with bad nuts, should also be banned.

At the Kasoa interchange, trotro drivers park right in the middle of the carriageway at either end of the interchange to drop and pick up passengers, and the Kasoa Police Station, is just a stone throw away. Also, when there is the slightest traffic hold up, trotro drivers are the first to drive on the hard shoulders on either side of the road.

The State has lost enough revenue already from not legalizing Okada, so the time to legalize Okada operations is long overdue. Those who opt to use their motorbikes for commercial purposes should be given a different registration plate from that of private motorbike users, just as it is with commercial vehicles. There should be a requirement for Okada riders to wear a helmet at all times and carry another helmet for their pillion riders (passengers) for safety reasons.

In addition, their roadworthiness, insurance cover and motorbike income tax should be current. This is where the Police will come in to do the inspection if they care to. If this is done, and they are made to form unions like the formation of G.P.R.T.U by commercial vehicle operators, then the NRSC, the Police and other stakeholders, can organise seminars to sensitize the Okada operators on road safety, other relevant regulations and consequences of a breach of those regulations.

Okada has come to stay without question, so it makes no sense running away from it. Parliament, to some extent, has a duty of care towards the ordinary Ghanaian to amend the relevant laws that will lead to the legalization of Okada operations. We have got to confront it ‘fiili-fiili’, thus openly, in the words of the hausa speaking person. The issue of prostitution would be dealt with shortly.

Alhassan Salifu Bawah
Lecturer and social commentator
[email protected]