Is Alfred Agbesi in the ‘okada’ business?

Allegations are rife on the streets of Ashaiman that the Member of Parliament of the Area, Honorable Alfred Agbesi is running a Motor Cycle Transport Business popularly known as ‘Okada’ in the metropolis, but the MP who is also the Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament has categorically denied the allegations.

Chief Inspector Steven Tetteh, Station Officer In charge of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of Ashaiman Police Station told the Scandal that he had also heard the allegations on the streets of Ashiaman but could not confirm its authenticity.

Word in Ashaiman is that Hon. Alfred Agbesi and some other big shots in the town are responsible for the huge surge of the “okada” business within the Ashaiman metropolis and that the Honorable Member of Parliament allegedly bought over 200 motorbikes and distributed them to the youth on a ‘work and pay’ basis.

Some residents who spoke to the Scandal on this issue were adamant in their claims, insisting that it was common knowledge in Ashaiman that the MP had bought and distributed the bikes during the 2012 electioneering campaign.

But In an interview with the Scandal, the MP flatly denied the allegation, saying he never bought or distributed any motor bike at any anytime in the Ashaiman metropolis, and insisted to know the informants who had made the claim.

Commercial motorbikes commonly known as okada, have taken over the streets of Ashaiman to the resentment of other road users in the town despite a ban on the practice, and the police seem powerless in their efforts to curb the practice to restore some sanity to the town.

The practice was banned early last year after years of consultation with stakeholders, and the obvious risks associated with okada operations not only on riders, but other road users as well. The legislative instrument (LI 2180) also prohibits the use of motorcycle or tricycle for commercial purposes.

Despite the ban, okada business is at its peak in Ashaiman, and this has been attributed to the traffic situation in the town, coupled with the bad roads and over – population in the town which is home to over 150,000 Ghanaians.

Ashaiman is a town that has always been known for its slow traffic movement, and most of the inhabitants see the motorcycles as a convenient way to commute while going about their businesses. However, the reckless and aggressive manner in which these riders operate have left the people in dread.

Motorcycle fatalities are becoming frighteningly rampant in the town, and residents are wondering why the police seem lax in curtailing the okada operations even after the ban.

There have been several reported cases of accidents caused by the activities of the okada riders. According to inhabitants, these riders blatantly disregard traffic regulations, causing harm to road users. They ride without observing traffic lights, and most ride without blowing horns, making unaware pedestrians panic and jump when alerted of danger behind.

These riders have taken over the pavements meant for pedestrians, compelling them to walk on the edges of the road. This is very dangerous because of the narrow nature of the major roads in Ashaiman.

The station officer of the MTTU Mr. Tetteh told the Scandal that the Ashaiman police have been persistent in their bid to enforce the ban on okada in the metropolis, but their efforts have been unsuccessful in most cases.

According to him, the MTTU organizes swoops occasionally to impound motor cycles that are being used for commercial purposes, but they sometimes get calls from some political party big-wigs to release them and out fear of being transferred to disadvantageous posts, they often comply.

He added that in other cases when the riders realize that they are being processed for the courts, they abandon the motor bikes, leading to the auctioning off of the impounded bikes.

Mr. Tetteh admitted that the activities of the okada were indeed causing more harm than good in the town, and stressed that cases of hit and run had become more rampant, adding that most theft and rape cases were often linked to okada riders.

He further explained that their biggest challenge is that most of these riders operate anonymously. When arrested, they make personal claims that they are not operating commercially, and produce their licenses and other documents to support the claims.

Mr. Tetteh assured inhabitants that steps are being put in place to arrest and impound, and bring to the barest minimum the commercial activities of motorbikes in the town.

Contrary to this, the inhabitants of the town are unimpressed with these assurances, and have accused the police of benefitting selfishly from the okada riders.

Most of the road users and some okada riders the Scandal spoke to accused the police of impounding the bikes for their own selfish gains. They said the policemen go on swoops to seize the bikes and later release them to the owners at GHc50 each.

Mr. Agyeman, an aggrieved taxi driver, told the Scandal of how okada activities were affecting drivers in the town. Pointing at his shattered side mirror, he lamented over how an okada rider had hit his mirror and run away just a few hours ago, and complained bitterly of the cost involved in fixing it. He added that it was an ordeal most drivers in Ashaiman had to deal with, mentioning a few of his colleagues who had gone through the same experience.

Another young mother of two who wished to remain anonymous spoke of how she had tried to use the okada service to get home one evening because she had to beat the heavy traffic and get home before her husband. After negotiating the fare, the rider insisted he wanted to use a shortcut and avoid the rowdy main road, to which she agreed. According to her, the okada rider ended up in an uninhabited part of town and raped her brutally despite her pleas, after which he sped away with her bag.

Despite all the risks involved, some people ignore them and still patronize the okada services, even though it is quite expensive and very risky.

These okada riders wear protective helmets, but their customers are often left susceptible to danger, and some women have even been spotted on these bikes with babies strapped to their backs.

Most of the town’s youth have boycotted their jobs in favor of running their own okada business which they claim is very lucrative.

Some okada riders who spoke to the scandal’s reporter said the government had to allow them to operate freely because there are no jobs in the system, and this enterprise is their means of catering for their families.

Residents are, however, calling on the police to enforce the ban and make strategic plans to rid the town of okada activities.