Government has served notice that the final stage of its stakeholder consultations on whether to legalize ‘Okada’ operations in the country or not will take off in October 2020.
The Government acting through the Ministry of Transport., had between March and November 2019, held consultations with various organizations, regional administrations and local authorities on the implementation of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012, L. I. 2180 which makes Okada operations in the country illegal.
The move was to assess the situation and see whether the law could be reviewed and if possible legalize Okada operations based on the feedback it will get from the stakeholder consultations.
Among the key actors engaged in this exercise were: Ghana Association of Driving Instructors, National Road Safety Authority, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, Motor Traffic and Transport Departments, Okada Riders Association, Ghana Insurers Association, Ghana National Fire Service, National Ambulance Service, Ghana Red Cross Society, National Disaster Management Organization, Road Safety Advocates, and the Transport Unions comprising GPRTU, GRTCC, PROTOA among others.
In addition to that, the Ministry of Transport also engaged the four major hospitals in the country namely Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, and the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
This was to obtain firsthand information on the toll of Okada related injuries on the administration and operations of the health facilities.
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) was also engaged in this exercise in November 2019 at the International Press Centre in Accra.
However, the consultations came to a halt following the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The law making Okada business illegal was passed by the NDC-led administration under the leadership of the former President of the land, John Dramani Mahama.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Transport and released in Accra says the final stages of the stakeholder consultations will be held in the six newly created regions of Bono East, Ahafo, Western North, Savannah, North East and Oti Regions.
“Other key interest groups and civil society organizations would also be consulted. They include the following: Center for Democratic Development (CDD), Danquah Institute, Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA), Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and political parties”, the statement in part read.
