NPP Will Not Legalise Okada – Dr Bawumia

Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says  the NPP government will not legalise the commercial use of motorcycles in the country.

The vice president said, the government will rather the riders “ graduate from this risky Okada riding to a safer means of transportation.”

To that end, he said the government would not legalise the practise but provide an alternative for okada riders and would maintain the status quo of a ban.

Dr Bawumia made the comments at a programme where German carmaker VW signed an MoU with BlackIvy to produce homes and cars for Ghanaians.

SEE ALSO:

Video: Okada riders swamp station to meet Mahama

So riders would be supported with credit as part of government’s automobile development drive to switch to commercial vehicles to earn a living.

In recent times, the debate on okada has been heightened following a promise of legalisation by the opposition candidate, former President Mahama contesting again on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and under whose leadership, it passed the law to out-law Okada business in the election year of 2012.

The development has split heads as critics such as think tank, IMANI Africa, supports legalization due to the economic benefits. 

This prompted a response in which the Transport Minister, Kwasi Ofori Asiamah,  said that a stakeholder consultation was ongoing. However, it was halted due to the COVID-19 and would resume before the end of 2020.

SOURCE: theghanarepot