Okada riders in the capital have expressed their frustration for being constantly neglected despite providing essential service to the public.
They said it was time for government to acknowledge them by making Okada riding a legal profession in the country.
In a recent interview, the national spokesperson for the Okada Riders Association of Ghana, Solomon Akpanaba, said that Okada riding has reduced youth unemployment in the country, particularly in Accra to a large extent.
“We contribute to Ghana’s socioeconomic growth but sadly, the public has not backed our calls to legalize our operations,” he bemoaned.
He also urged city authorities to put measures in place to train them to obey road signs and ride safely, instead of quickly accusing them of being reckless riders.
He added that, currently there are no driving schools with certified instructors to train motor riders.
Certified instructors, he said, would give recommendations to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and help train Okada riders properly.
This, according to the spokesperson, would help deal with the misconception that their members also use their motorcycles for robbery because every member can be tracked and monitored.
Akpanaba concluded that Okada riding has come stay because they provide essential services, and so they should be regulated instead of planning to scrape them off.
