The Director General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Abraham Amaliba, has announced that his organization is working towards legalizing and commercializing the Okada business in Ghana.
He shared plans to register riders in unions and introduce devices with trackers to curb excessive speeding on the roads, following a model similar to Rwanda’s approach.
He explained that a recent trip to Rwanda was aimed at learning from their successful road safety practices, and he sees no issue with adopting their methods.
Amaliba further revealed that the NRSA is exploring the idea of categorizing riders based on their specific roles, such as food delivery or passenger transport. This initiative is meant to ensure proper registration, not only for Okada riders but also for three-wheeled vehicles, commonly known as ‘Pragya’ or ‘yellow yellow’.
In an interview on Hot Issues on TV3, Amaliba stressed that the legalization of the Okada business will come with stringent regulations, including mandatory use of E-bikes, as well as uniforms and helmets for riders.
The NRSA is also prioritizing education for motorists to ensure they respect other road users.
Additionally, plans are underway to increase the number of cameras on the roads to monitor traffic and enforce compliance. “After legalization, no Okada will be allowed to jump traffic,” he stated.
