The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) will begin registering transport unions and companies in November as part of preparations for the full implementation of commercial motorcycle operations, popularly known as Okada, under the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026.
The NRSA Director-General, Abraham Amaliba, announced the planned registration during a stakeholder engagement with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), outlining the steps being taken to regulate commercial motorcycle services.
According to Mr Amaliba, individual riders will no longer be registered independently under the new arrangement. Instead, they will be required to operate through recognised transport unions or companies, creating a more organised system for managing commercial motorcycle activities.
The registration exercise is expected to strengthen regulatory oversight by making it easier to identify the unions and companies responsible for riders operating under their supervision. It is also intended to promote accountability among operators and support efforts to improve road safety.
The involvement of MMDAs in the stakeholder engagement forms part of preparations to coordinate the implementation of the new regulatory framework at the local level. The assemblies are key stakeholders in managing transport-related activities within their respective jurisdictions.
The planned registration marks a preparatory step towards the full operationalisation of commercial motorcycle services under the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026. The NRSA is expected to use the process to establish a more structured approach to the organisation and regulation of Okada operations nationwide.
The new arrangement will require commercial motorcycle operators to align with recognised unions or companies rather than register solely as individual riders, representing a shift towards collective responsibility and closer supervision within the sector.
Story by Ama Frimpomaa