I take this piece from a certain perspective, looking at the legal regime anticipated by the new Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (LI 2519), as well as sharing an opinion on what needs to be done further to ensure the effective and safe implementation of commercial operation of Okada.

Often times, you hear people say we have so many laws. They suggest that this country is not short of laws, but rather the lack of implementation and enforcement. That suggestion equally greeted that passage of the new Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (LI 2519). To those who took that position, there was no need to pass a new law. According to them, the previous law, Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180) had sufficient provisions that could deal with our road traffic issues, making is unnecessary to enact a new law.

For my position, it is better to have laws waiting for changing times, than to allow ourselves to be overwhelmed with trends before finding ways to resolve them.

The lack of a legal regime to regulate the commercial use of motor bikes, popularly known as Okada, has brought a rather chaotic use of Okada on our streets. Today, in almost every corner of the country, motor bikes are used for fare paying services.

For many years, the position of law enforcement has been that no law allows for the commercial use of motor bikes especially for fare paying passengers. As a result, we turned a blind eye to the phenomenon even though it was glaring. Commercial motor riders ride through all principal areas of the country. They pass in front of law enforcement officers who turn a blind eye. For those who attempt to check their operations, it has been one means of extortion or the other.

The commercial operation of motor bikes, until the passage of LI 2519, had no clear regulatory provisions in law. Indeed, it was prohibited under our laws and for that matter, no clear efforts could be made to put the operators to check.

In 2025, the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683), was amended to make room for the recognition of the use of motorcycles for commercial purposes. This mother Act, provided a broader framework that allows for the regularization of Okada business in Ghana.

In order to give effect to the general provision in the Act, LI 2519 was passed with specific provisions bothering on qualification, registration and operation of Okada. The entire provisions from Regulations 164 to Regulations 177 are dedicated to commercial operation of motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles and its associated offences.

Let me attempt to look at some key provisions in LI 2519 in this regard.

Regulation 164 prohibits the use of a motorcycle, a tricycle, or a quadricycle for commercial purposes without holding a valid commercial rider’s licence issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).

Regulation 165 provides for the conditions for grant of a commercial rider’s licence. The provision requires an applicant for a commercial rider’s licence to be at least 21 years of age, have a valid National Identification Card, prove to be a member of a commercial road transport organization associated with motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles, and must have passed a medical examination determined by DVLA, a theory and practical test, and an in-traffic test and any other such tests determined by DVLA.

Regulation 166 makes provisions for renewal of a rider’s licence. A rider’s licence, like a driver’s licence, is expected to be renewed every two years.

Regulation 167 empowers DVLA to suspend or revoke a commercial rider’s licence where the licence holder is convicted for reckless or dangerous riding, use of a motorcycle, tricycle or quadricycle for an unlawful activity, or fails to renew the licence every two years.

Regulation 168 deals specifically with the registration of motorcycles, tricycles or quadricycles. It provides that no person shall operate a commercial motorcycle, tricycle or quadricycle without registration with DVLA. Upon application to register a commercial motorcycle, tricycle or quadricycle, the applicant must prove ownership, and evidence that it had met the standards for roadworthiness set by DVLA, and paid the prescribed registration fee.

Regulation 169 and 170 provides for matters related to road certification and issuance of same for commercial motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles.

Regulation 171 provides for safety measures expected of operators of commercial motorcycle, tricycle, and quadricycle. Key among the provisions is to stick within the maximum number of passengers determined by DVLA.