Commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators have been given a six-month transition period to familiarise themselves with new requirements governing their operations under Legislative Instrument 2519, according to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA).
The new regulatory framework includes requirements covering licensing, registration, passenger safety and commercial identification, including the use of yellow number plates for motorcycles and tricycles operating commercially.
Upper East Regional Head of the NRSA, Eric Anokye Fordjour, said the transition period is intended to allow operators to understand the requirements before full implementation.
“We have a six-month transition to sensitise operators so that they know the requirements that are embedded in this L.I.,” Mr. Fordjour said.
He spoke during a road safety training workshop for commercial motorcycle, popularly known as Okada, and tricycle operators at the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council in Bolgatanga.
The workshop brought together operators and executives of their unions as part of the NRSA’s sensitisation on L.I. 2519, which provides a regulatory framework for commercial motorcycle operations in Ghana.
“We have planned this workshop for commercial tricycle riders, and this is in conformity with L.I. 2519, which gives legal backing to the commercial use of bikes in Ghana,” Mr. Fordjour said. “So, we brought stakeholders together to educate ourselves.”
Participants were taken through requirements for valid licences and their timely renewal, responsible riding, passenger safety and compliance with traffic regulations.
Operators were also cautioned against overloading their tricycles because carrying passengers beyond the approved capacity increases the risk of crashes and serious injuries.
Mr. Fordjour said commercial operators would also be required to belong to recognised unions, arguing that organised groups would make supervision and regulation of the sector easier.
“Every operator must belong to a union, and that is very, very important because the union will be supervised,” he said. “Their work will be supervised, so they will also have a strong hold of their members.”
He said stronger organisation within the sector could improve discipline, accountability and compliance with road safety regulations.
Upper East Regional Chairman of the National Union of Tricycle Operators Ghana, Yakubu Ayamga, welcomed the new regulatory framework, saying operators had long anticipated formal regulation of their activities.
“It is something that we have long been waiting for, and I must say that I am very happy,” he said. “Looking at how this venture has created a lot of jobs for the youth, we are very grateful for the new L.I. that has come.”
Mr. Ayamga said operators were prepared to comply with the requirements, adding that the union had begun organising and registering members even before the new regulations were introduced.
“The lack of compliance is something that is creating more nuisances. So, I think it is in the right direction that we must comply,” he said.
Regional Organiser of the National Union of Tricycle Riders Association, Adingo Jonas, said union executives would extend the sensitisation to operators who did not participate in the workshop.
“We will try our possible best to pass the message to our members who weren’t part of the workshop,” he said.
Mr. Jonas also appealed to passengers to inform riders early about where they intend to alight, saying sudden requests to stop can create risks for riders, passengers and other road users.
“This will help us give indicators, warning other road users of our movement direction,” he said. “Some always wait until you are almost passing before they draw your attention.”
The NRSA is expected to continue sensitising commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators during the six-month transition period as implementation of the new regulatory framework progresses.
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