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Be discipline, responsible to avoid accidents – police urges ‘okada’riders
Motorcycle riders have been urged to observe road safety regulations in order to prevent accidents and loss of lives.
The appeal targets commercial operators, amid concerns over rising indiscipline and disregard for basic safety requirements on the roads.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Anthony Zumoh Baligi, Osu Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) Commander, gave the advice during a health screening and safety training for riders in Accra.
The exercise, organised by Impact World 360°, a non-profit corporation, trained more than 70 riders in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), bleeding control and safe handling of accident victims to improve response at crash scenes.
ASP Baligi said many riders undertook journeys without considering the consequences, despite having dependents.
He said some operators rode without valid licences, insurance, and proper registration of their motorcycles.
“In some cases, riders are unable to confirm whether the motorbikes they use are roadworthy or even legally acquired,” he mentioned.
ASP Baligi also indicated that some riders even attempted to bribe police officers when arrested, but later accused them of corruption, stressing that compliance with the law remained the best way to avoid confrontation.
He said disregard for traffic rules, including lane discipline and right-of-way, as well as riding against traffic and weaving through vehicles, increased the risk of crashes.
ASP Baligi identified fatigue as a major risk factor, noting that long hours on the road without adequate rest impaired judgment and reaction time.
He further stated that road crashes also imposed financial burdens, including costs of investigations and mandatory testing, which could be avoided through responsible riding.
ASP Baligi advised riders to ensure their documents were in order, respect traffic regulations and allow sufficient time for rest.
He also urged employers to avoid placing undue pressure on riders to meet unrealistic delivery deadlines.
The programme included health screening for conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes as well as practical emergency response training.
Nana Noi, Coordinator of Impact World 360°, described the initiative as a “gamechanger,” combining health awareness with emergency response training.
She said the initiative could help reduce fatalities associated with road crashes.
The programme, supported by the United States Embassy in Ghana, aimed to encourage participants to share life-saving knowledge within their communities. –GNA
Ghana has made progress in the way it manages public resources and delivers services to citizens, with improvements in financial management and access to education and healthcare helping to raise its governance score.
The country ranked 92nd out of 133 countries worldwide and ninth in Africa in the 2026 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), according to a report released last Thursday.
The improvement offers a positive sign for Ghana, although the country still faces challenges in areas such as leadership, long-term planning and creating an attractive environment for businesses.
The index showed that Ghana’s performance in Financial Stewardship, which measures how governments manage public finances and maintain fiscal sustainability, almost doubled this year after declining between 2021 and 2024.
Its score in Helping People Rise, which looks at how government policies and services improve people’s lives, also increased for the second consecutive year, reflecting progress in areas including education and healthcare.
However, the country recorded declines in Leadership and Foresight and Attractive Marketplace, indicating areas where further attention may be needed.
Ghana’s performance comes at a time when several African countries are also making progress in governance. The report found that 71 per cent of African countries assessed in both 2025 and 2026 improved their overall scores.
Dinesh Naidu, Director of Knowledge at Chandler Governance Group, said the continent’s strongest gains were in financial management, followed by efforts to improve citizens’ lives.
He said the progress suggested that improvements in government capabilities were beginning to translate into tangible benefits, including better access to education and healthcare.
However, Africa continues to face significant challenges. Although average scores improved in six of the index’s seven pillars over the past year, the region’s overall average remains below its 2021 level.
The report also found that 23 of the 35 African countries assessed ranked outside the global top 100, while none made it into the top 50.
Globally, 61 per cent of the 120 countries assessed in both 2025 and 2026 recorded higher scores, representing the highest annual share of countries improving since the index began in 2021.
The Chandler Good Government Index assesses government capabilities and effectiveness across 133 countries, representing 94 per cent of the world’s population.
It uses 35 indicators grouped under seven pillars to help governments identify their strengths, recognise gaps and learn from the experiences of other countries.
Mr Naidu said rankings should not be treated as an end in themselves but as a guide to identifying areas that need improvement.
He said sustained progress depended on strong institutions, responsible use of public resources and the ability of governments to turn policies into meaningful outcomes for citizens.
For Ghana, the latest results point to progress in some important areas, while highlighting the need to strengthen other aspects of governance to ensure that improvements are felt in the daily lives of ordinary people.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
President John Mahama has arrived in Moscow, Russia, from Ethiopia to participate in the 3rd Russia-Africa Summit.
The summit is being hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the visit, President Mahama will join fellow African leaders at the Economic and Humanitarian Forum and summit plenary sessions.
He is also scheduled to hold high-level bilateral talks with President Putin and attend a Kente exhibition organised by the Russia-Ghana Parliamentary Forum.
As part of the visit, the President will receive honorary doctorate degrees from the Russian University of Transport and the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia.
He will also engage Russian businesses and state institutions to advance bilateral cooperation between Ghana and Russia.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
