EDITORIAL: Legalize �Okada�

The Daily Graphic yesterday reported that the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service had arrested 13 motorcyclists for engaging in illegal commercial motorize activities, popularly known as �Okada�. The paper quoted the Deputy Commander of the MTTU, Superintendent Deborah Addison-Cambell, as saying that the exercise was part of activities being conducted by the police to clamp down on indiscipline on our roads, prior to the Christmas festivities. The Deputy Commander argued that it was illegal for motorcyclists to engage in commercial transportation in the country, since the law did not permit them to do so. The police have the mandate to enforce law and order in the country, therefore, The Chronicle would not fault them for arresting the �Okada� boys, because their activities are indeed illegal. Whilst conceding to this fact, The Chronicle thinks it will serve the best interests of the country if their activities are legalized and regulated. We will all agree that the movement of people and vehicles in the urban cities of Accra and Kumasi, especially in the Central Business areas, is a nightmare. Due to the heavy traffic and human congestion, people get to their work places late, which in the long term would contribute to low productivity. We, therefore, believe that if the commercial motorcycle transport or �Okada� business is introduced, it will help commuters to move with relative ease, especially in the traffic-choked places in Accra and Kumasi. The Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police service should be empowered to regulate the activities of motorcyclists who engage in commercial business. The Chronicle believes that the legalization of their activities can also create employment for the youth of the country. The regulatory authorities must, however, ensure that the operators in the �Okada� business strictly adhere to safety measures, such as enforcing the use of crash helmets for the motorcyclists and their passengers. The operators should also be made to insure their motorcycles to cover third parties. They must also not be allowed to pick more than one passenger. Their operations must be limited to areas which experience constant and heavy traffic jams. In the advanced countries, bicycles and motorcycles are the best form of transportation in the cities, which help to reduce traffic to the lowest level. Unfortunately, this is not the situation in Ghana, where people prefer to ride in their own cars to work, which also contributes to traffic jams. We contend that if the use of motorcycles as a means of transport is well structured, it will gradually lead to the reduction of traffic in our towns and cities. We are aware that criminals are increasingly using motorcycles to commit crime in the country, but we think if the right strategy is adopted by the police, they can contain the situation.