The Public Relations Officer of the Okada Riders Association of Ghana, Solomon Akpanaba, says the association is ready to enforce strict discipline among riders following Parliament’s passage of the Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2025, which legalises commercial motorcycle and tricycle operations.
Responding to concerns about how riders will comply with traffic lights and road regulations on Channel One Newsroom on Friday December 12, Akpanaba admitted that indiscipline among some riders has been a major public complaint.
However, he said the association is prepared to address the challenge once the sector is fully regulated.
“It is a challenge to us. Once the system is regularised, we know these are the complaints Ghanaians have against us, and these genuine complaints, we see them happening,” he said.
Akpanaba explained that under the new law, unions will play a major role in instilling discipline among their members. He said union leaders will have the authority to sanction riders who break traffic rules, including those who refuse to obey traffic lights.
“We are very sure that if we are given the mandate to discipline them as they are asked to work under unions, their leaders will make discipline their key mandate. They should be able to ensure there is discipline among their members,” he said.
He added that riders who fail to follow the rules could face serious consequences.
“Failure to adhere to the rules and regulations that we will give them, we can ask them to stay home, we can sack them from the station, we can remove them from the union.”
The Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2025 is expected to improve road safety, streamline the transport sector, and create employment opportunities for young people. It also introduces tighter regulations, including a revised alcohol concentration limit for drivers and stricter penalties for offenders.
Transport Minister Joseph Nikpe Bukari told Parliament that the changes are meant to sanitise road transport services and ensure safer and more efficient road use across the country.
