Only lazy leaders can’t regulate Okada – Elikem Fia
As the December polls get closer, so is the intensity of the campaigning from the various political parties with the aim of convincing Ghanaians to vote for them. Manifestos launched, promises made and campaigns underway.
Since the launch of the biggest opposition party National Democratic Congress’ manifesto, one of the policies that caught Ghanaians attention and has been the topic for some weeks now is the legalisation and regulation of commercial motor riders business.
The motor riders business popularly called ‘Okada’ in local palance, is a business believed to have over eighty four thousand people directly engaged in it and hoping to have their free will to operate since it’s illegal in the country.
The opposition NDC in their manifesto launch promised to legalise the venture, a move the ruling party New Patriotic Party says it’s an unwise decision.
They argue that a lot of road accidents these days are caused by these motorists and legalising it will lead to more road accidents.Although some Ghanaians share the same view, a lot more think differently.
The national convenor of the motorcycle owners, dealers and riders association of Ghana Mr Albert Elikem Fia in an interview with emmanuel martey on ahotor fm’s asem yi di ka has opined that legalisation of the venture is the best way to go and claimed only lazy leaders will frown on that policy.
He claims, the notion that it causes the majority of road accidents and is used to perpetrate crimes in the country are not true and it’s an agenda to tarnish the image of the riders.
“The business is growing by the day and there is the need to legalise and regulate it. As we speak, we have over eighty four thousand people directly engaged in the venture and it’s high time we accept that part and parcel of us. If the ruling Government is adamant to legalise and regulate it, why don’t they abolish it since its illegal?, he asked”
Elikem claims that, in terms of employment and monetary benefits, the Okada business contributed immensely to the economy and eases traffic in the country.
“In 2015, the Okada business contributed about $4 billion to the world economy and will rise to over $9 billion according to worldwide report”
The Vice president Dr Mahamadou Bawumia recently promised to give the riders cars as a better option to stop the use of the motorcycle for commercial use.
But for Albert, it’s not feasible and can’t even solve the easy movement to remote areas and heavy traffic areas due to the bad nature of our roads.
“Look at how deplorable our roads are and the heavy vehicular traffic we have in the country, how does vehicles curb this problem.
Whatever promise the vice President and NPP national organiser Sammy Awuku are making is just a scam and should be treated as such”
“We are not the cause of road accidents in the country. It’s mostly the dispatch riders and those engaged in the courier service that mostly engaged in road accidents. If the ruling party thinks it’s not befitting enough for someone to engage in Okada business, they should employ all of us into the banking sector and the various Government agencies”
” If the business is not good, they should stop the importation of the motorbikes, they should start arresting the motor riders and most importantly construct all the deplorable roads across the country. If that is done, then we will believe they are serious with us”
Elikem Fia finally urged Ghanaians and all those involved in the Okada business to vote for the NDC since they have given them hope and are willing to protect their business.
Mustapha Hadji Dean
