Okada riders are Ghanaians - NDC hits back at NPP

The main opposition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has contested claims by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) that 60 to 70 percent of commercial motorbike riders, known as Okada, are not Ghanaians.

The NDC maintains that Okada riders are Ghanaians with the same rights as anyone conducting lawful business in the country.

NDC Zongo Caucus spokesperson, Naziru Mohammed, refuted the NPP's assertions in an interview on the Ghana Yensom morning show hosted by Otafrigya Kaayire Kwesi Apea-Apreku on Accra 100.5 FM on Thursday, June 6, 2024.

He emphasized that Okada riders contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of Ghana and that their business should be regularized.

"It is in this light that former President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to regularize their activities if elected in the December 7, 2024, general elections," Mohammed stated.

He argued that every profession has its hazards, drawing parallels to accidents involving drivers, airplane crashes, and train derailments, and questioned why Okada riders should be singled out for causing accidents.

Alhaji Mohammed stressed that the Okada business is thriving and should be regulated to create job opportunities for the country's unemployed youth.

He called for the legalization and integration of Okada riders into Ghana's socio-economic framework, asserting that proper regulation would help minimize road hazards.

"The urgent need for the activities of these Ghanaians to be legalized and integrated into the socio-economic development of the country is clear. When regulated, they will observe rules that minimize hazards on the roads," he added.

This debate comes as the country prepares for the upcoming elections, with differing views on how to handle the burgeoning Okada industry.

The NDC’s stance highlights the party’s commitment to providing solutions for unemployment and enhancing economic participation among Ghanaian youth.

He noted that when former President Mahama left office in 2016, the unemployment rate was 8 percent and has now jumped to 17.5 percent under the watchful eyes of President Akufo-Addo and his Vice President and flagbearer of the NPP, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia.