The Ghana Road Safety Authority (GRSA) is pushing for legislative reforms to regulate the commercial motorbike sector, popularly known as Okada, in a bid to curb the increasing number of motorbike-related accidents across the country.

Director-General of the GRSA, Abraham Amaliba, disclosed on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, July 16, that the Authority is actively engaging Parliament to amend existing laws to formally incorporate commercial motorbike operations into the national transport regulatory framework.

“We are amending the law, and when that law comes into being, including the Okada law, all these things will come on board,” Mr Amaliba said.

The proposed legislation will provide the necessary legal backing to streamline the activities of Okada riders, enhance safety protocols, and ensure the GRSA can enforce compliance measures. According to Mr Amaliba, the Authority is also strengthening collaboration with the Ghana Police Service and has engaged National Security to support a multi-agency strategy aimed at reducing the alarming rate of road crashes involving motorbikes.

Despite these efforts, he expressed concern over what he described as widespread indiscipline among motorbike operators, which continues to pose a serious threat to road safety.

“The indiscipline on the part of some Okada riders is also the reason why the accidents are on the increase,” he lamented.

Issues such as reckless riding, disregard for traffic regulations, and failure to use protective gear have become commonplace, undermining national efforts to improve road safety standards.

The GRSA’s call for reforms comes amid growing public anxiety over the surge in motorbike-related fatalities and injuries in recent years. The Authority believes that with legal backing and stricter enforcement, it will be better positioned to ensure safer roads for all road users.

souce : https://www.myjoyonline.com/