The West African Regional Director of CUTS International, Appiah Kusi Adomako, has raised concerns over the government’s decision to legalize motorbikes for commercial use, popularly known as Okada.
Speaking on Prime News on ABC News GH on Tuesday, Mr. Adomako described the widespread use of Okada as an indication that Ghana’s public urban mobility policy has failed.
“Okada is a pessimist that shows our public urban mobility policy has failed,” he said.
He pointed to the previous government’s Aayalolo bus service, describing it as a failed policy due to a lack of prioritization.
“The previous government did not put a lot of priority on it. If we had invested more into mass transport and ensured its proper functioning, I am sure no one would have preferred Okada,” he argued.
Okada Should Be a Short-Term Solution
While acknowledging the role of Okada in filling transportation gaps, Mr. Adomako insisted that it must only serve as a temporary measure.
“We should see Okada as a short-term measure. This streamlining should expire in a maximum of ten years. By that time, I am sure we would have had high-speed trains, multi-transit systems, and proper roads, so people will no longer prefer Okada,” he explained.
Transport Minister Moves to Legalize Okada
His comments come in response to Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe’s directive to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to immediately begin the registration and licensing of Okada operators.
Mr. Nikpe, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Saboba, justified the move by stating that legalizing Okada would help promote road safety and discipline among motorbike riders.
On his first day in office, the Minister visited the DVLA and other agencies under the transport ministry, where he emphasized the need for urgent steps to ensure that Okada operations adhere to road safety standards.
