The Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service have declared war on the use of motor-bikes for commercial activity, popularly known as �okada.�
The MTTU is also embarking on an operation to ensure that heavy-duty and slow-moving vehicles adhere to the outer lanes on the motorways and highways.
Speaking to The Finder after an operation on motorcycles in Accra, the National Commander of the MTTU, ACP Angwubutoge Awuni, said statistics at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital painted a gory picture of fatalities and serious injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents. He said motor-bike-related cases accounted for 59 per cent of accident cases reported daily at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
He said last Saturday�s operation was code-named, �Operation no helmet, no motor-bike,� and also targeted motorcycle riders who rode without crash helmets. It was carried out in the central business district of Accra on Saturday. ACP Awuni said the operation resulted in the arrest of 24 riders and the seizure of 58 motor-bikes.
He said the offenders were being processed for court. ACP Awuni further said the offenders would be granted bail, adding that the unit recently auctioned 68 motor-bikes to scrap metal dealers because their owners abandoned them.
He debunked assertion the MTTU had given up on okada operators and said the use of motor-bikes for commercial purposes still remained illegal in Ghana.
ACP Awuni revealed that his outfit would carry out the operation weekly, saying the National Security and the headquarters of the Ghana Police Service were behind the MTTU to ensure the success of such operations. He commended the Motor Court for ensuring the speedy adjudication of motor-related offences.
He said another area the MTTU was taking seriously was the issue of heavy-duty tracks and slow-moving vehicles which use the inner lanes instead of the outer lanes, especially on the highways. He said such action was illegal and could cause accidents when fast-moving vehicles were compelled to overtake on the wrong side.
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