Abraham Amaliba, Chief Executive of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), has acknowledged that measures are underway to change the Roads Act to enable the legalisation of commercial motorbike operations, also known as “Okada.”
Speaking on JoyNews The Pulse on Monday, March 10, he stated that the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) intended to legalize Okada had previously been withdrawn from Parliament due to concerns over siren usage by MPs.
However, he indicated that the law is being examined and will soon be submitted to Parliament for approval, following which the legalisation process will begin.
“There will be an amendment to the Roads Act,” Mr Amaliba announced.
As part of preparations to ensure a smooth transition, the NRSA CEO revealed that a delegation had recently returned from Rwanda, where they examined best practices for motorbike transportation.
Mr Amaliba announced that he will meet with executives from Okada rider associations, tricycle operators, and other stakeholders to begin negotiations about implementing laws.
Aside from legislative modifications, he noted that the NRSA intends to interact with stakeholders to gain more insights.
Addressing worries about potential road safety issues, Mr. Amaliba stressed that tight traffic enforcement will be critical.
He asked Ghana Police Service’s Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) to crack down on dangerous riders, pointing to Rwanda’s success in regulating the industry through law enforcement.
“I urge the MTTD to crack down on miscreants. We realised that enforcing the laws helped the Okada industry work smoothly in Rwanda.”
He emphasised the importance of technology in improving road safety, saying that Ghana’s implementation of traffic cameras corresponds with Rwanda’s model, which allows offenders to be quickly recognised.
He also emphasised the significance of safety gear, noting that in Rwanda, both riders and passengers wear helmets and fluorescent jackets for easy identification.
“So, when we follow these best practices here, we will be able to significantly reduce the incidents that we are discussing. “We are prepared to handle the situation with the help of the MTTD,” he continued.