The President of the Okada Riders Association, Haffis Tahiru, has welcomed Parliament’s passage of the Road Transport Amendment Bill 2025 with cautious optimism. The landmark legislation, which legalizes the commercial operation of motorcycles, tricycles, and quadricycles, marks a hard-fought win for riders who have long battled restrictive regulations. Speaking to journalists in Accra, Tahiru expressed profound joy, describing the bill as a “long-overdue victory” after years of advocacy amid economic hardships and informal transport demands in Ghana’s urban centers.
However, Tahiru quickly tempered the celebrations with a stern caution against complacency. He urged all okada riders nationwide not to squander this hard-earned opportunity through reckless or unruly behavior. “We’ve fought too long for this; let’s not let one moment of indiscipline undo our progress,” he emphasized, highlighting the risks of traffic violations or hooliganism that could invite renewed crackdowns.
Tahiru assured that the Okada Riders Union remains committed to upholding the trust placed in them by President John Dramani Mahama and his administration. “We will do everything in our power to avoid disgracing the President and his government,” he pledged, positioning the union as a responsible partner in national road safety efforts. This comes at a time when Ghana grapples with rising road accidents, with motorcycles often implicated in statistics from the National Road Safety Commission.
To ensure professionalism, the union has outlined strict operational standards for all commercial okada riders. These include mandatory uniforms for easy identification, provision of two helmets—one for the rider and one for the passenger—commercial number plates distinct from private ones, compulsory union membership, and an age requirement of at least 25 years for entrants into the business. Tahiru stressed that enforcement of these measures will be rigorous, aiming to transform okada operations from a shadowy informal sector into a regulated, revenue-generating industry.
The bill’s passage is expected to boost livelihoods for thousands of youth-dependent riders while generating tax revenue for the state. As implementation guidelines roll out, stakeholders anticipate improved road discipline and economic integration, provided riders heed Tahiru’s call.
Source: Ohemaa Adusi-Poku