By Elizabeth Larkwor Baah
Tema, March 31, GNA – Mr Tony Dickson Afriford, a Road Crash, and Injury Prevention Analyst, has cautioned against making the legalisation of ‘Okada’ a partisan issue, emphasising the need for a national approach to its regulation.
Mr Afriford told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the decision regarding Okada legalisation should be based on safety concerns rather than political promises, adding that even Nigeria, which brought Okada, had banned them for commercial purposes due to the high rate of accidents and fatalities associated with their usage.
He explained that motorcycle-related crashes have led to significant loss of lives and life-threatening injuries, saying that Rwanda was having a lower fatality rate due to its well-constructed roads, separate roads for pedestrians and strict enforcement of traffic regulations; therefore, Ghana should not only depend on their commercialisation without putting the needed measures in place.
“The originators of Okada are Nigerians, but now they have banned Okada for commercial purposes because they said it was one of the biggest mistakes they made as a country, where they were having a lot of fatalities. When it comes to this Okada issue, I am surprised that we as a country want to copy Rwanda; we don’t have better roads,” he stated.
Mr Afriford mentioned that most of the Okada riders did not use the certified helmet and warned that if care was not taken, Ghana might not be able to meet the United Nations goal in 2030, which required that every country reduce their fatality rate by half.
The road safety expert also pointed out that a significant number of Okada riders in the country were foreigners who do not understand the local language and do not have the permit to work in the country.
He also said that the political influence in the regulation of Okada would make it difficult for law enforcement officers to do their work due to political interference and called for a national approach to addressing the challenges posed by Okada legalisation, urging stakeholders to prioritise public safety over political gains.
Mr Afriford said although Okada businesses provide employment opportunities and a means of transportation in areas with poor road access, the authorities need to take a comprehensive approach that includes improving infrastructure, enforcing traffic laws, and ensuring that riders undergo proper training. Safety is the top priority in any decision regarding the commercialisation of motorcycle use.
He called for the president to chair the committee aiming to legalise Okada and hold a national dialogue to deliberate for experts to give their advice on the issue.
GNA
LS/LAA