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Over 2m ‘Okada’ riders operating?
Okada man
There are currently over 2 million registered commercial motor riders, popularly known as ‘Okada riders’ operating in the country across all 16 regions; even the remotest part of the country.
That huge number notwithstanding, they have been unsuccessful in courting support from the public to get the appropriate Act of Parliament to legalise their activities.
The national Spokesperson for the Okada Riders Association of Ghana (ORAG), Mr Solomon Akpanaba, told The Spectator, that remains a major headache for the association.
“We provide an essential service that makes it possible for people to move from one place to the other to carry out their activities. In so doing, we also contribute to Ghana’s socioeconomic growth but sadly, the public has not backed our calls to legalise our operations.”
Mr Akpanaba told The Spectator in an interview that Okada riding had to a large extent helped to reduce youth unemployment cases and believes that it was time a serious consideration was giving to it by government to make their profession legal.
He said instead of quickly accusing them of being reckless on the road and being a threat to road safety, the authorities should rather put measures in place to train them to ride safely and observe the road signs.
The national Spokesperson said currently, although there were uncountable number of driving schools, no effort was being made to get a school with certified instructors to train motor riders.
He said having riding schools with certified instructors would be helpful in this regard, explaining that the riders would therefore be licensed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) recommendation from such instructors.
He said at the moment, the training of the riders remains the responsibility of the ORAG.
According to him, training and regulating their activities could deal with the school of thought that their members also use their cycles to engage in robbery because every single member can be tracked and their activities monitored.
“We also need the motorbikes registration numbers designed to fit commercial purposes so that the difference between a commercial and non-commercial motor riders will be distinctive,” he explained.
He said if they were given numbers based on their locations, it would even make it easier for the association, its members and the public to monitor them to do what is right.
He disclosed that even though they were compelled to insure their motorbikes, whenever they were involved in an accident, they were told by insurance companies that they do not qualify for insurance benefits due to the position of the law on commercial riding.
Mr Akpanaba said Okada riding had come to stay based on the assessment of the invaluable services they provide and so the time has come for the state to regularise them instead of attempting to scrape them off.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Ashaiman
Madam Sandra Seyram Kpedor, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Anloga in the Volta Region, has emphasised the importance of parental involvement in children’s education, stating that education is free, but parents need to do more to support their children.
She said parents, teachers, and students must be involved in addressing the challenges facing the district’s education sector, particularly the poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.
Madam Kpedor outlined some key roles parents should play to promote their children’s education, including providing a conducive learning environment, monitoring their children’s progress, and supporting teachers.
The DCE highlighted some challenges the district faced such as inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of teachers, which have also contributed to the poor BECE results and called on well-to-do parent to help solve the situation through and other supports.
To address the issues, she also announced that plans have been taken to utilise the district’s common fund to implement educational projects, such as constructing school blocks and teachers’ bungalows at Sodzi community, and 2-unit classroom blocks each at Akplorwutorkor and Tegbi-Afedome respectively, among others.
Madam Kpedor also noted that her office had earlier notified the Ministry of Education to deploy more teachers to the area to improve teaching and learning, and encouraged students to work hard and strive for excellence, and work beyond their limit to succeed.
“To my wonderful and beautiful girls, you have to know it clear that women and girls have equal opportunities to compete with men for greater achievements,” she indicated.
The DCE cited her own achievement as a testament to the fact that women can excel in leadership positions, alongside Vice President Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and stressed that girls were no longer limited to domestic roles but can pursue their dreams and become leaders.
Additionally, she mentioned that a meeting was held earlier with assembly members, and other stakeholders to address the district’s educational challenges and improve academic performance.
She promised that the district’s education oversight committee and stakeholders would work together to address the challenges and improve the district’s BECE results and called for parental involvement and support to boost the district’s education sector for children to chase their dreams to become future leaders for the success of the district and the nation.
She urged parents not to leave everything to the government but rather help in the provision of some necessary materials such as textbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, food, and guidance to children for the successes of young learners. –GNA
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The spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the implementation of the NDC government’s No Fee Stress policy, arguing that the programme has failed to deliver on its core promise.
According to him on Starr fm, the policy, which was introduced to ensure stress free payment of fees for level 100 tertiary students, has rather turned into what he described as post stress support.
He explained that students are required to pay their fees first before applying for reimbursement, a situation he believes defeats the purpose of the policy.
He questioned claims by government officials that the policy has been successful and that citizens are happy.
In his view, such claims do not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians. He stressed that while some people may appear satisfied, many others continue to struggle.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye pointed to the situation of trained teachers and nurses who have been picketing for nearly six months, demanding employment.
He noted that government responses suggesting it cannot accommodate all of them contradict claims of economic stability.
He further argued that economic indicators such as a stable currency mean little to people who are unable to secure jobs or access promised support.
He observed that telling an unemployed teacher or a struggling student that the cedi has strengthened does not address their immediate challenges.
On the issue of tertiary education, he maintained that no level 100 student benefited from stress free fees in 2025, despite the policy being announced.
He added that in 2026, students have already reported to school without receiving the promised support.
He insisted that asking students to pay fees first and seek reimbursement later amounts to support after hardship, not stress free education.
According to him, this approach goes against what was promised during the policy announcement.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned why a government that presents the economy as strong is unable to fulfil what he described as simple and clear promises.
He added that there is a fundamental problem with the way the economy is being managed and indicated that he is prepared to explain his position further.
By: Jacob Aggrey
