<<Print>>

The Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Moses Abor, has cautioned former President Mahama to stop plagiarizing NPP’s ideas but come out with his own manifesto.

The former President says he will legalize Okada business (commercial motorbike transport services) when elected for a second term in December 7 polls.

Speaking to the chiefs, people and party supporters at Kpando in the Volta Region on Friday, 21 August 2020, the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said: “I've been seeing young people who have finished school and they can’t find a job and, so, they are looking for something they can do and many of our young people are riding motorcycles and transporting people from place to place, and we call them Okada”.

“But in our law, it says Okada is illegal but Okada is a reality, it has come to stay, you can't stop it, and, so, I've suggested and I say when we come into the office, we will legalize Okada but we will regulate it. We will regulate it and we will give them training so that they can do their business safely without causing the lives of people, they must obey all the traffic regulations in order that they are allowed to pursue their profession”, Mr. Mahama said.

But according to Moses Abor, the ruling NPP is already fixing the economy by providing intervention programs targeted at resourcing entrepreneurs to create job opportunities for others.

“Regularizing the Okada business has always been NPP’s priority and as a youth, we are already in consultation with stakeholders in the transport industry to legalized the operations of those who use the motor bicycle for commercial purposes in the country.”

“I can see Mr. Mahama is showing serious signs of desperation and gross incompetent even in opposition. Ghanaians are not asking for photocopy President… It is not about copying someone's idea and changing it to your own. What Ghanaians are expecting from him is to come up with fresh ideas, something that has never been implemented or occurred to anybody thus a unique alternative and not an already existing initiative. It is clear Mr. Mahama has run out of ideas”, he said in a press statement.

Read the full statement released on Saturday, August 18, 2018, below:

REGULARISING OKADA ACTIVITIES WILL ENHANCE PROFESSIONALISM

Okada business since its inception has been very useful in the transport sector. It has served as an alternative means of transport for commuters when traffic congestion is at it’s best. It serves as a source of employment.

Its patronage is not determined by one’s status in the community but all persons including Security officers, Lawyers, students, clergy among others.

The erstwhile John Dramani Mahama led administration left a polarized economy where joblessness had created intense hardship for the citizenry. The NPP government is currently in charge of fixing the economy by providing intervention programs targeted at resourcing entrepreneurs to create job opportunities for others.

It is expedient that in resourcing entrepreneurs, we do not collapse the Okada business but take them through sensitization programs that will resource them to do their work with diligence and attach professionalism to their service to the nation.

The government in this regard has to regulate their activities by giving each rider a unique Identity number, organizing workshops on precautionary safety measures to educate them on road traffic regulations.

Not only will it benefit the citizenry but also, it will to a large extent, curb the issue of transport struggles within the various regions in the country.

The government will also get tax for development while these commercial riders will also be gainfully employed and be able to provide for their families to reduce economic hardship.

Let us not discredit the work of these commercial mOkada businesses since its inception has been very useful in the transport sector. It has served as an alternative means of transport for commuters when traffic congestion is at it’s best. It serves as a source of employment.

Its patronage is not determined by one’s status in the community but all persons including Security officers, Lawyers, students, clergy among others.

The erstwhile John Dramani Mahama led administration left a polarized economy where joblessness had created intense hardship for the citizenry. The NPP government is currently in charge of fixing the economy by providing intervention programs targeted at resourcing entrepreneurs to create job opportunities for others.

It is expedient that in resourcing entrepreneurs, we do not collapse the Okada business but take them through sensitization programs that will resource them to do their work with diligence and attach professionalism to their service to the nation.

The government in this regard has to regulate their activities by giving each rider a unique Identity number, organizing workshops on precautionary safety measures to educate them on road traffic regulations.

Not only will it benefit the citizenry but also, it will motorcyclists but rather, let’s together with the government, come to a consensus to regularize their activities to make our nation’s transport sector well expanded and effective.

By Honorable Moses Abor
(Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer for New Patriotic Party)