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General News of Thursday, March 28, 2019
Source: starrfm.com.gh
2019-03-28
The government has been instructed to legalize the commercial use of motorcycles as "Okada"
The heated debate over the legalization of the "Okada" activity in the country drew the attention of members of the Ghanaian Parliament, who called for the amendment of the country's highway code to reflect this practice.
In a statement to the House on Thursday, the minority chief bad, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, called on the government to legalize the commercial use of motorcycles as "Okada" because of its contribution to the Ghanaian economy.
In 2012, the Ghanaian Parliament approved a legislative proposal by the Government to adopt the Road Traffic Regulation 2012 (Legislative Instrument 2180) to regulate road transport in that country.
Subsections 128 (1), (2) and (3) of the RE. 2180, prohibit the use of motorcycles or tricycles, or what is commonly called "Okada" for commercial purposes.
Arguing the lifting of the ban on using motorcycles or tricycles for commercial purposes, the Asawase MP indicated that the benefits outweighed the disadvantages of their activities.
"Even though these Okada operators are trying to make a living, their activities have been described as counterproductive, as many of them do not respect the rules of the road. They do not wear protective clothing such as helmets, putting their lives and those of their customers at risk. Some of them ride recklessly, resulting in road accidents.
"These negative trends have necessitated a call for a total ban on the practice as well as some of the main reasons that initially influenced the adoption of the law. But I think that the benefits outweigh the social costs and that, therefore, we can not kill the goose that laid its eggs in gold by permanently banning the eggs. " using the motorcycle or tricycle for commercial purposes, "he said.
He added that the suggestion that motorcycles are used to commit crimes such as tearing cell phones and people's money, then the speed of their travels is not inherent in this mode, but is a consequence of the improper application of the law.
According to him, the key is that the country put in place regulations that support the commercial activities of Okada runners and aims to establish appropriate standards and capabilities for motorcycles and their drivers for public transit.
"These regulations must also cover the type of motorcycle appropriate for which a deductible may be granted, the minimum engine capacity in cubic centimeters (DC), the speed of movement of motorcycle taxis, the route of the franchise, the requirements of of seat and helmet and register them as a public service vehicle driver ", he added.Through other regulations, their use for commercial purposes, such as the setting working time limits in which business operations are allowed, can help us achieve the goal of creating jobs for youth and transportation needs of our population, especially in rural areas.
"Let's review the law to accommodate Okada operators by integrating them into our national transportation system so that they can be identified, registered, licensed and controlled to comply with traffic regulations," he said.
For his part, Vice Minister of Transport Titus Glover revealed that the commitments of stakeholders are still ongoing.
"Let's see what the law says. For now, he says it should not be operationalized. I say that, from the point of view of the department, we are still engaged. We want to listen across the country and check if it is really possible to examine it, "he said.
At the same time, the first vice-president, Joseph Osei-Owusu, for his part warned that the Parliament would live to regret if it amended the laws in order to legalize the use of the motorcycle for the commercial transport.
According to him, no responsible officer will legalize the affairs of Okada considering the ramifications
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