The Okada Rush And Fatalities

 

There is an okada rush to Ghana from Niger, and with it more carnage on our intra-city roads.

Many citizens of this West African country are taking over the commercial motorbike business in Accra. Picking the good tidings about the flourishing business in their home country, they are migrating to Ghana in droves.

They speak no local language and just how they communicate with their customers can pass for magic.

It has become so easy for them to come and settle down here with little or no hindrance.

The issue is not only about their invasion of a business space, but the lack of a regulatory regime to control the flourishing yet perilous business of motorcycle commuter service.

Understanding and applying road signs matters in maintaining road safety.

Foreigners who do not understand English let alone read road signs are more likely to be involved in accidents than those who do.

This leader is the umpteenth on this subject about road safety as it pertains to commercial motorcycle service.

We could not but return to the subject when the story of seven-year-old Rasmiya Abdul Rahaman made a heartbreaking headline in yesterday’s edition of the DAILY GUIDE.

An okada rider lost control of his motorcycle in Adankwame, in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of the Ashanti Region, and rode into three kids as they waited to cross to the other side of the road.

Rasmiya Abdul Rahaman died as two of her siblings, Rasmid Abdul Rahaman, 7, and Musharaf Abdul Rahaman, 11, sustained injuries, leaving their parents to endure uncontrollable stress.

A few days ago, an elderly man was knocked down by a motorbike in Nima. He bled profusely and had to be referred to the Mamobi Polyclinic for attention from the nearest clinic where he was initially rushed to.

There are many stories playing out on daily basis; the statistics for this year alone on okada-related accidents and fatalities are many and too serious to be ignored.

The okada issue has been exceedingly politicised and, therefore, beyond reasonable debate.

We are not standing against the commercialisation of this means of transport, far from that. All we are saying is that there should be enforceable regulation so accidents, some of them fatal, can be averted.

With many more motorcycles now joining the others already on our roads, there would be unfortunately a corresponding rise in accidents.

Motorists and pedestrians will bear witness to the dangers these motorbikes create on intra-city roads in Accra.

A visit to the Emergency and Accident Ward of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and other facilities will paint a vivid picture of the dangers posed by non-regulation of commercial motorbike operation in especially Accra.

As mentioned in a preceding paragraph, the subject is one of the many politicised ones and so it would be difficult or impossible to have the authorities listen to us when we plead that this business should be regulated.

Until this regulation is effected, the young men from Niger will continue to flood our terrain, buy motorbikes and commence the okada business. It is that easy because, after all, there is no regulation and, unfortunately, the perilousness will continue under excessive politics.

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