Messy Okada: At the Mercy of Road Safety

Messy Okada: At the Mercy of Road Safety

In the early nineties, it could only be seen in especially Nigerian movies, as the impact of it sunk down, then it began to creep in on us; currently outlawed but ‘okada’ business is here with us. A harsh reality if you ask me.

Okada: is the commercial use of motor cycles for transporting people and properties for a fare. But the big question that comes up more often than not is; are the activities of okada riders here to stay or to slay?

The okada debate has made it to the national agenda especially because of its prevalence in major urban centers, even though the law has an unequivocal and categorical position on use of okada.

The relevant statute as per the Road Traffic Regulations 2012 (LI 2180) section 128 under heading ‘Prohibition of use of motorcycle or tricycle for commercial purpose’ states thus:

    •    The licensing authority shall not register a motor cycle or tricycle to carry a fare paying passenger.
    •    A person shall not use or permit a motor cycle or tricycle over which he exercises control to be used for commercial purposes except for courier and delivery services.
    •    A person shall not ride on a motor cycle as a fare paying passenger….
Sub regulation 4 spells out the penalties for flouting the law as; fine of at least 25 penalty units, at least thirty days imprisonment or both

A mini exegesis of the law if you like: Point (1) registered motorcycles are being used for okada business albeit the DVLA can’t be blamed for what an individual does with his bike. Point (2) is particularly interesting because most riders claim these bikes are owned by the law enforcers (policemen to be precise). Point (3) the least said the better.

The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) has described okada as an urban menace with the following facts as basis:

    •    Motorcycles account for only 20% of total vehicle population yet between 2001 and 2011, over 1,500 motorcyclists were killed in road traffic crashes, 30% of which were recorded in 2010 and 2011.
    •    The proportion of motorcycle fatalities in the national total fatalities keeps rising from 2.6% to 7.1% within the last 10 years.

Ing. May Obiri Yeboah, Executive Director of the NRSC proposes that efficiency in transportation cannot be achieved via the use of one man behind a motorcyclist meandering their way through traffic; but rather an effective public transport system that can guarantee safety of passengers from one point to the other.

Her point brings into sharp focus the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system that sought to dedicate lanes to designated buses to transport people in an easy and free flowing manner especially from commercial centers to outskirts.

As a result of the BRT, vehicle owners would have to park their vehicles at home or at parking lots/terminals close to their homes and catching ‘rapid’ bus ride to work and back. The advantages of cutting down pollution and of saving money are just to mention a few.

The peculiar situation of northern Ghana relative to use of motorbikes is pretty different especially with the socio cultural dynamics. The use of motorbikes there is so pervasive, one may find it difficult differentiating who is using it for what purpose.

Having said that, okada business booms mostly in the urban centers where vehicular congestion, due to proliferation of vehicles and construction/reconstruction of roads; creates a situation where people in need to beat deadlines see okada as the easiest and fastest way out.

Consequently, people sacrifice their comfort to be perched behind a speeding rider, both wearing helmets or not, meandering through traffic and doing their best to escape the policeman on the next junction.

The consequences are there to be seen, but people still flag these riders and take the ride. The figures relating to okada deaths are rising and the promulgators of the law are also clear on it as above quoted.

Enforcement looks like what is eluding us. Tie that into police corruptibility and the stone headedness of some of the citizenry all in the name of earning our daily bread. That would decide whether the okada should stay or be allowed to slay another life. God Bless Ghana.

Thanks for reading

Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban
newcguide@gmail.com