Okada riders in Akyem Akroso in the Eastern region are agitating over a temporal ban on their Operations by the Traditional Council.
The Chief of Akyem Akroso Nana Kwabena Ofori II and his elders together with the Assembly members in the community have placed a short-term prohibition on Okada riders in the area following alarming cases of pedestrian knockdowns and fatal crashes.
The decision, according to the Akroso Chief Nana Kwabena Ofori II, is to bring sanity, law, and order into the Okada operations in the area.
He said cited that, a number of his subjects are being injured and killed as a result of reckless riding by the Okada riders majority of whom are minors and without licenses neither their motorbikes registered.
He stressed that new modalities will be spelled out for qualified riders ready to obey road safety regulations to resume work.
According to the Chief, all minors will not be allowed to operate Okada. Again, only registered motorbikes, insured and licensed riders will be permitted to operate.
The decision which took effect today Tuesday after announcements on information centers since Sunday when the decision was taken has, however, created confusion as many passengers who patronize Okada as means of transport are stranded.
Some of the Okada riders who attempt to defy the orders are being clamped down by their leaders who have admitted the allegations against them and are ready to corporate for sanity to prevail in the business to save lives.
Benjamin Bediako, one of the leaders of the Okada riders said, a meeting has been scheduled with the Traditional councils to iron out the difference and streamline the modalities for the Okada business.
Akyem Akroso has lots of Okada riders due to the poor nature of roads in the area as well as affordability.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
