'Okada Riders Will Be Given Uniforms to Identify Them and Must Be in a Union' - NSRA Boss
Accra, Ghana - 23 March, 2025 - In a bid to curb the rising number of accidents and improve road safety, Ghana's government is set to legalize and regulate the country's 'Okada' motorcycle taxi services, a popular mode of transportation in urban areas.
The move comes as part of a broader effort to address safety and security concerns associated with commercial motorcycle operations.
According to Abraham Amaliba, Acting Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), riders will be required to wear uniforms and reflective gear for easy identification. They will also be mandated to undergo comprehensive road safety education programs to promote responsible riding practices.
“They [Okada riders] are going to be given uniforms to identify them, we will give them reflectors then, we will prescribe the type of element that they will be wearing then the people they pick will also wear the same helmet,'' he said in an interview on TV3 on Sunday March 23, 2025.
“The DVLA will give them special number plates and licensing. Then the police will enforce the law.”
To ensure compliance, the government plans to implement a range of measures, including registration and licensing of riders through the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). Riders will also be required to join recognized unions to facilitate identification and regulatory oversight.
“We are going to reset them in unions. We are not going to have individual okada riders walking to the offices to say I have a motorbike I want to register, no.
“You must be with a union and that union must have its executives so that when you engage in an illegality or a crime and we are looking for you, we will go to the union and we can fish you out. Things are going to change,” he said.
Additionally, motorcycles will be fitted with speed-limiting devices to prevent speeding, while tracking systems will be installed to monitor movement. These measures, according to Amaliba, will help to reduce the number of accidents involving motorcycles and improve overall road safety.
“We are also going to provide them with speed limits. There will be gadgets in their motors which will stop them from speeding. Then also there will be a tracker in each motorbike.
“So as you move, wherever your motorbike is going, there is a computer monitoring you and your movement,” he emphasized.
The government's plan is contingent upon Parliament's approval to legalize 'Okada' operations. If approved, the new regulations will mark a significant shift in the government's approach to regulating the 'Okada' industry.
Source: Lead News Online
