Members of the Okada Riders Association of Ghana (ORAG) and the National Union of Tricycle Operators Ghana (NUTOG) have staged a demonstration in Accra, calling on the government to legalise commercial motorcycle and tricycle operations in Ghana.
The protesters say the government has yet to fulfil its promise to create a legal framework for okada operations, despite earlier assurances that the sector would be legalised.
The demonstration, held on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, aims to put renewed pressure on the government to act on the issue.
Speaking during the protest, one rider said many members of the association supported the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 elections because of its promise to legalise okada operations.
“We belong to the Okada Riders Association. We worked hard to help the NDC. Why did we work for them? The reason we worked for them is that they promised that if they came into power, they would legalise okada, commercial motorcycle operations, for us. That is the issue,” he said.
He said the continued lack of legalisation has left riders vulnerable to police harassment and restrictions in several parts of Accra.
“Because legalisation hasn’t happened yet, the police are harassing us everywhere. Wherever you go, the police are targeting us. If you go to Kaneshie, you can’t operate. Sukura, you can’t go. Now they have started in Central as well. Jamestown is the same,” he stated.
The rider expressed frustration over what he described as the government’s failure to address the concerns of riders who actively supported the NDC’s campaign.
He said riders made significant sacrifices during the election campaign, including buying campaign clothing and mobilising support for the party, with the expectation that their operations would be legalised after the NDC assumed office.
“We are a party that has sacrificed for you. We even bought clothes to campaign for the NDC. So why is it that after winning power, you won’t legalise okada for us?” he added.
