Afotey Agbo, Police on likely collision course over 'Okada' ban

The Greater Accra regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo has vowed to resist the enforcement of the new road safety regulation that bans OKADA activities in the region.

Addressing hundreds of NDC supporters in Ashaiman, Hon. Afotey Agbo challenged the relevance of the law which was part of several road safety regulations that were passed by Parliament.

The regional Minister noted that until the use of Motor bikes for commercial purposes are banned in the three Northern regions; he will oppose the enforcement of the law in his region.

Regions in Northern Ghana are known for the presence of motor bikes which are used for various activities.

According to Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, the new law will only be a discriminatory instrument unless it extends to Northern Ghana.

The regional minister’s assurance was backed by the MP for Ashaiman, Alfred Agbesi who also told the NDC supporters many of whom engage in the Okada business that discussions are on-going to get government to send the law back to Parliament for amendment.

“The law will wait until we take it back to Parliament, for Parliament to look at it again.”

Just Enforcing The Law

But the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Police service has called the bluff of the regional minister.

The Head of Training and Education at the MTTU, DSP Alexander Obeng, told XYZ News the police will continue to enforce the law irrespective of the concerns expressed by the Minister and others.

“The responsibility to provide efficient, safe public transport lies squarely as far as the by-laws are concerned, with the District Assemblies and therefore the state. It doesn’t lie with the police,” he stressed.

He however said that the responsibility of the police is to ensure that the regulations surrounding road use is the country is adhered to by all and sundry.

He indicated that “any entity that has a problem must table it on the floor of parliament and not on the road. On the road, anything that is done that will constitute road criminality with regards to unsafe use of any vehicle falls within the domain of the police.”

DSP Obeng said the law seeks to protect people’s lives and not to deprive them of their livelihood.