Government lays bill to legalise, regulate 'Okada' operations
The draft legislation, laid in the House by the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, proposes amendments to the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683) to allow motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles to be used for commercial purposes under a regulated regime.
The government has placed before Parliament a bill that would, for the first time, formally legalise commercial motorcycle and tricycle transport, widely known as okada.
The draft legislation, laid in the House by the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, proposes amendments to the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683) to allow motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles to be used for commercial purposes under a regulated regime.
Under the bill, the new framework would:
Authorise commercial use of motorbikes, tricycles and quadricycles;
Provide for the development of safety standards, including seat belts (where applicable), helmets and other protective gear; and
Set out detailed regulatory requirements, including licensing and compliance obligations.
With the bill now formally laid, MPs are expected to begin debating and scrutinising the proposed changes in the coming weeks. If adopted, Parliament would repeal or adjust relevant provisions in Act 683 and L.I. 2180, effectively bringing commercial motorcycle and tricycle operations into the formal transport system under a licensing and oversight structure.
The move is in line with long-standing calls to decriminalise okada operations. The push has been most strongly associated with President John Mahama, who has repeatedly pledged—during the 2020 campaign and again ahead of the 2024 polls—to legalise and regulate the industry.
He has argued that commercial motorcycle transport has evolved into a significant source of youth employment and should be supported through structured regulation rather than treated as an outlaw activity.
