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The standard-bearer of the Democratic National Congress (NDC) ignited the conversation about legalizing Okada after he promised to regularize it if he wins power in December. Now it has become a serious public debate.
As usual, the noise that surrounds it is almost strictly partisan, without taking into account the most important aspects of the evolution of our beloved nation, its infrastructure, the efficient use of resources, the risk for operators, passenger passengers. and pedestrians like everything.
However, the presidential candidate guarantee has generated a lot of excitement among thousands of Okada cyclists in Ghana and a large number of them have publicly declared that they will vote for the NDC in the December 7 general election. The thumb and the right to vote are theirs.
Don’t you think that what is needed now is to create safer work and life-long opportunities for people, especially young people? The number of these riders who have died and others whose limbs have been amputated is very alarming. The statistics are there. They need to break free from this risky and less safe okada driving.
Although Okada’s business is estimated to be capable of employing up to one million Ghanaians, it faces many safety challenges that make the roads unsafe and susceptible to preventable deaths and injuries from traffic accidents.
Okada accidents have become a major public health problem that must be addressed with a multidisciplinary approach. For example, the trend of traffic accidents, injuries and recklessness associated with the business is becoming alarming not only in Ghana, but also within the sub-region.
The number of fatal and disabling road accidents occurring in Ghana is absolutely high and is a real public health challenge for all agencies involved.
I believe that what is needed is a complete, decent and affordable public transportation system. The singular reason and the fact that if you want to set standards, you don’t look back, you look forward. The road is a multimodal transportation system that includes good roads, rail transportation, and advanced intra-urban transportation.
Tell me about a 5-10 year plan of how you want to transform the public transport system for rural and urban centers The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) – ‘Ayalolo’, but due to poor planning, it would have been a good start.
The reason Okada has come to stay is not a good excuse after not enforcing the law that we “smartly” passed 8 years ago. How long can we go on like this?
In the year 2020, it even amazes me that this is our conversation on development. It seems like a step forward and then a few more steps back. If we continue to do things this way, when are we going to catch up on rail transportation and air trains that others are already living on? Is the African unworthy of such ideas?
We must look ahead and leave a better transportation system for our grandchildren. Legalizing Okada is like preparing a tasteless meal for the future leaders of this country. They will be disappointed in us if they learn that this is the future we create for them. Okada cannot be the future.
Most of the people who are embracing Okada legalization are only interested in the financial benefits they will enjoy. But at the end of the day, most of them will sign their death warrants. Ghana cannot afford to lose its HR capital in the name of Okada’s business. May we have leaders with the heart, the vision, and the will to inspire us to change or improve the world in a productive, meaningful, and progressive way.
