Okada Riders Urged to Secure Certificates Before Enforcement Deadline
Association calls for clear enforcement deadline for riding certificates
Public Relations Officer of the Okada Riders Association, Solomon Akpanaba, has appealed to state authorities to establish and enforce a definitive deadline for commercial motorcyclists to acquire riding certificates.
Speaking on Morning Starr via Starr FM, Akpanaba stressed that a firm timeline, coupled with clear consequences for non‑compliance, would motivate more riders to engage in the certification process.
He argued that merely offering free training has not translated into widespread participation, as many riders assume their road experience exempts them from formal accreditation.
Akpanaba suggested that authorities could issue a public notice stating that riders lacking certificates would be subject to arrest after a specified date, thereby reinforcing the requirement.
He referenced a precedent where the Ghana Police have threatened a three‑month ultimatum for uncertified riders, questioning why a similar declaration has not been made for certification enforcement.
According to him, the training programme is currently provided at no cost, yet uptake remains low, partly due to the perception among some operators that certification is unnecessary.
He believes that a transparent enforcement deadline would shift this attitude by making certification a prerequisite for continued operation.
Akpanaba maintained that combining stricter enforcement with accessible training is essential to ensure all commercial motorcycle operators possess the necessary certification.
