Ras Mubarak
Government’s decision to cap the age limit for persons who desire to be commercial motor riders, popularly known as Okada, at 25 years has met stiff opposition.
This time round, it is not coming from members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), but from within the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), by its former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumbungu, Mohammed Abdulai Mubarak, aka Ras Mubarak.
The new provision is set to prohibit operations without belonging to a recognised union, and need for riders to be at least 25 years of age, as contained in new Legislative Instrument (LI) being drafted to amend the existing one, Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (Legislative Instrument 2180).
They must also belong to a recognised tricycle transport union or employed by a licensed commercial motorcycle company.
In a Facebook post however, Ras Mubarak stated that “any law that would restrict Ghana’s commercial riders’ age to 25 years will amount to discrimination and marginalisation of out of school youth who are trying to earn a living.”
That, he said, was because “it would also be inconsistent with the Labour Act of Ghana.”
He, therefore, urged the Minister for Transport to, as it were, “familiarise himself with existing laws of Ghana.”
He insisted that “the indiscipline on our roads has nothing to do with age.”
Instead, he said “what need to happen is training, more training and public education.”
According to him, his company, “OkadaMotto, has taken it upon itself to encourage training of riders and the provision of the right safety gear. You can learn more about what we do at www.OkadaMotto.com #OkadaMotto.”
The Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, recently directed the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to commence the process for the registration and licensing of motorbikes for commercial use in the country with immediate effect.
He said the legalisation of motorbikes for commercial use would ensure that motorbike riders strictly adhered to road safety regulations, to help reduce motorbike-related crashes and deaths.
Mr. Nikpe, also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Saboba, said legalising the use of motorbikes for commercial purposes would help to reduce indiscipline on the roads.
He gave the directive on his first day at work, which saw him pay a working visit to the DVLA and other agencies under the Transport Ministry.
Context
In 2012, Parliament passed the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180) to sanitise road transport in the country. Regulations 128 (1), (2) and (3) of LI 2180 prohibit the use of motorbikes or tricycles for commercial purposes.
Specifically, Regulation 128 (1) of LI 2180 states that the “Licensing Authority shall not register a motorcycle to carry a fare-paying passenger.”
Section 128 (2) also states that a “person shall not permit a motorcycle or tricycle which that person exercises control to be used for commercial purpose, except for courier and delivery services”. Additionally, Section 128 (3) stipulates that “a person shall not ride on a motorcycle or tricycle as a paying passenger.”
Although this law exists, it has not been strictly enforced, a development that gave a field day for unregulated commercial use of motorbikes.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu