No legalization of the company “ Okada ” – the government says

Economic news for Thursday 25 February 2021

Source: Ghanaian weather

02/25/2021

Transport Minister-designate Kwaku Ofori Asiamah has confirmed that the government will not legalize the use of motorcycles for commercial purposes.

This is because current traffic regulations and applications do not support the marketing of motorcycles commonly known as “okada”.

“We have an enforcement problem in this country and based on what is happening on the ground today, it will be difficult for me to lead the legalization of Okada,” Asiamah told the committee on Tuesday. appointments from Parliament in Accra.

Motorcycle accidents and the deaths that accompany them are on the rise, he said, and legalizing the trade would make matters worse.

“Mr. President, in 2010, the number of people died in motorcycle crashes was 210. With the figures for 2020, out of 2,500 deaths in road accidents, 1,050 are as a result of motorcycles.

Denying that the government has hinted at a stakeholder commitment to legalize trade in the run-up to the 2020 elections, Asiamah said he could commit later if road regulations and enforcement improve. .

“Fortunately, the police are trying to modernize their traffic control system. If the conditions in terms of traffic management, in terms of the application of regulations become favorable, why not? We will evaluate it.

“But with the current condition, it will not be possible for us to legalize okada,” he said.

The controversy over Frontiers Healthcare continues

Speaking on the circumstances under which Frontiers Healthcare Services won the contract to test for coronavirus disease COVID-19 at Kotoka International Airport (KIA), Mr Asiamah said the agreement had been signed the day the business started operating.

“Mr. President, according to the document in front of me, the contract was signed on September 1, 2020. I can’t remember when they started operations.

The airport reopened operations on September 1, 2020, the day Mr. Asiamah said the contract was signed, after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced in his 16th national speech on COVID-19 that “ KIA will reopen and resume operations from Tuesday September. January 1, 2020. “

“The brief I have from Ghana Airports Company Limited was that Frontier Healthcare contacted them and proved they had the capacity to undertake the testing. Their equipment was certified by the FDA after it was handed over to them by the Ghana Airport Company, ”Asiamah revealed.

At least four appointed ministers, including the Minister of Health at the time of signing the contract, have denied having knowledge of the contractual agreement between the government and Frontiers.

The minority in parliament had raised concerns about the deal, arguing that the company had not procured public and that the fees it charged had not been sanctioned by parliament in accordance with the Fees and Charges Act.

But appearing before the Committee, the designated ministers of Health, Foreign Affairs, Justice and Gender, Children and Social Protection, who was Minister of Public Procurement in the President’s Office, had all denied having had knowledge of the contract.