Public Relations Officer of the Okada Riders Association, Solomon Akpanaba, has called on authorities to set and enforce a clear deadline for commercial motor riders to obtain riding certificates.
Speaking to Isaac Addae on Morning Starr on Starr FM, Mr Akpanaba said authorities should give riders sufficient notice and make it clear that those who fail to obtain the required certificates by the deadline will face enforcement action.
He said a firm deadline would encourage more riders to participate in the training and certification process.
According to him, the availability of training alone has not been enough to get all riders to participate, partly because some riders believe their experience on the road means they do not need formal certification.
Mr Akpanaba said authorities could announce, for example, that riders without the required riding certificates would be arrested after a specified date.
He argued that such an announcement would encourage riders to take the training and certification process seriously.
“We are certain that by now Ghana Police will give an ultimatum that three months today, if you don’t have riding certificate, you will be arrested on the road,” he said.
He questioned why authorities had not made a similar clear announcement on the enforcement of riding certificates, given that deadlines and enforcement notices are used in other road-related measures.
Mr Akpanaba said the training is currently available to riders for free, but attendance has remained low.
He attributed the low participation partly to the perception among some riders that they already know how to ride and therefore do not see the need to obtain a certificate.
He maintained that a clear enforcement deadline could change that attitude by making certification a requirement that riders must meet to continue operating.
Mr Akpanaba said stronger enforcement, together with training, would help ensure that riders who operate commercial motorcycles have the necessary certification.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Pamela Quayson
