The Deputy Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide, has stated that okada riders can only benefit from the transport sector revitalization programme if they vote for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) again on December 7.
This follows the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s promise to legalise ‘okada’ operations if it wins power .
NDC’s promise to legalise okada operations has mounted pressure on the NPP-government . While some NPP members came out to claim that the government was already considering the legalisation of the okada operations, the Vice President, Dr Maha mudu Bawumia has stated that the NPP-government will not legalise the okada operations.
Reacting to the mixed reactions on the legalisation of okada on Atinka TV’s morning show, Ghana Nie, hosted by Nana Owusu Nkrumah, Pius Enam Hadzide stated that instead of legalising okada business, the government will rather provide jobs for the riders.
According to him, when the government inquired the reasons for the business, the riders pointed to unemployment .
“We decided to provide employment for them, and where there are no accessible roads, we create roads for them to stop the okada operations.”
For those who insist they want to work in the transport sector, Pius Enam Hadzide, said government will also support them.
He added that,”The choice for the youth of Ghana is that, you can go for the ‘Nana Addo Taxi’ and pay in bits or you decide to follow John Mahama to sit on okada, where the possibility of death in the case of an accident is 16 times higher. The choice is for the people of Ghana to make.”
When asked when this can materialize, he said,“When we enter into our second term in 2021, the initiative will begin. The government is collaborating with the GPRTU to pilot the initiative. We have captured it in our 2020 manifesto and it means that in 2021 if Ghanaians elect us again, we will implement it.”
He said the NPP-government will continue to implement the law against okada operations until it is changed.
He alleged that Mahama had important a number of motorbikes and tricycles to distribute to people for them to vote for him even though he knows it is still illegal to do the business.
“He acted deliberately to break the law, we will ensure the laws are working. We will help the youth to gain employment instead of the okada business. The youth should not focus on what the NDC is saying about the lagalisation,” he added.
However, the okada riders are still pushing for the legalisation of the okada business despite the back and forth
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori