The Okada Riders Association of Ghana (ORAG), led by Michael Kofi Owusu, and the National Union of Tricycle Operators Ghana (NUTOG), led by Hamza Hafiz, have staged a massive demonstration and presented a petition at the Jubilee House over the delayed legalisation of commercial motorcycle operations.
The two groups mobilised their members from across the country to present their concerns directly to President John Dramani Mahama and demand urgent action on the legislative process intended to regulate and legalise commercial motorcycle operations.
According to ORAG and NUTOG, Parliament has passed an amendment to L.I. 2180, 2012, resulting in L.I. 2519, which they say is currently awaiting presidential assent before it can become law.
The associations said they initially welcomed and commended the government for supporting the legislative process. However, they expressed disappointment that since Parliament passed the amendment, they had received little or no communication regarding the next steps.
They said repeated engagements with the Ministry of Transport and correspondence to various government officials concerning the welfare of their members had failed to produce the response they expected.
ORAG and NUTOG also expressed frustration over what they described as a “use-and-dump” attitude towards their members, particularly after their alleged support for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the 2024 general elections.
The groups claimed that their members campaigned for President Mahama and NDC parliamentary candidates across several constituencies and actively mobilised support for the party during the elections.
They said the continued uncertainty surrounding the legal status of commercial motorcycle operations had also contributed to rising compliance costs, making it increasingly difficult for riders to operate.
The associations cited increases in the cost of a rider’s licence from GH¢700 to GH¢1,500, motorcycle registration from GH¢350 to GH¢1,200, and insurance premiums from GH¢102 to GH¢305.
According to the groups, the increased costs have placed significant financial pressure on riders, with many struggling to obtain the required documentation.
They further alleged that riders who are unable to afford the necessary documentation are subjected to frequent harassment and extortion on the roads.
ORAG said it had exceeded the membership requirements it understood to have been established by the Ministry of Transport and now had a presence in all 16 regions of Ghana, while NUTOG said it also had members operating across the country.
The two organisations maintained that they collectively represented a significant number of Ghanaians who depend on motorcycle and tricycle operations for their livelihoods.
They further claimed that during the 2024 elections, their members assisted in transporting voters to and from polling stations and supported various electoral activities.
ORAG and NUTOG estimated that their combined efforts contributed between 20 and 30 per cent to the electoral victories of President Mahama and NDC parliamentary candidates, although the claim was presented by the associations themselves.
Despite their frustration, the groups said they had not given up on President Mahama and remained hopeful that the government would respond positively to their concerns.
Their principal demand is for the President to urgently give presidential assent to L.I. 2519, allowing the amendment to become law and providing a clear legal framework for commercial motorcycle and related operations.
They argued that legalisation would help reduce the financial burden on riders, increase government revenue, minimise confrontations between operators and law enforcement officers, and enable the sector to operate under a properly regulated framework.
ORAG and NUTOG maintained that the sector provides livelihoods for millions of Ghanaians directly and indirectly and therefore deserves urgent attention from the government.
The demonstration and petition are expected to intensify pressure on the Presidency as the two associations continue to push for the legalisation of commercial motorcycle operations and greater recognition of the contribution of their members to Ghana’s transport economy.
