Stop ‘okada’ business - Ashaiman Municipal Assembly to motorists

The Municipal Security Council of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly in partnership with the police have clamped down on the use of motor bikes for commercial activities within the area.

According to the Assembly, the use of motor bikes essentially within the central business district of the municipality has a contributing effect to the huge vehicular traffic situation.

Additionally, the Assembly argued it is difficult to differentiate between those who are using motor bikes for genuine business and those using it for criminal activities.

To this end, the Security Committee of the assembly on Saturday, 10 March 2018, resolved and ordered all ‘okada’ to be impounded.

Over 200 motor bikes have been seized and currently being kept at the police station.

A member of the Assembly's taskforce who took part in the exercise, Ayariga, told Class News that the exercise forms part of activities to combat crime within the area.

He added that, most of the crimes committed in the area are done with the use of motorbikes.

According to him the Assembly will ensure that, those whose bikes were wrongfully impounded shall be released after careful scrutiny.

For his part, the Chairman for the Okada Operators Association, Muhammad Tijani, pleaded with the Chairman of MUSEC, Albert Boakye-Okyere, to regulate their operations to avoid impeding further, the free flow of vehicular movement. "Creating an on street parking for us for a fee like that of the vehicles will reduce the level of congestion in the central business district," he suggested.

He also wondered why the Assembly will turn its back after using them in the heat of the 2016 electioneering campaign and urged government to "allow us work till you provide us with meaningful job".