Esame Daniel Koku, a 42-year-old Okada rider in Accra, has spent nearly a decade riding through the bustling streets on his motorcycle.
But seven years ago, a nightmarish encounter with a police officer turned his life upside down.
Daniel recalls that fateful day vividly. “I nearly lost my mind due to the police harassment,” he says with his voice tinged with lingering pain. The scars on his knees and thighs bear testament to the brutality he endured, leaving him with chronic internal pains and a permanent limp in his left leg.
Despite returning to the Okada business, Daniel’s spirit is dampened by the memory of his wife leaving him during his recovery period. “Sometimes, when I think about her abandoning me while I was still on the hospital bed, it makes me sad,” he admits.
Amatodor Emmanuel, another Okada rider, had his own distressing experience with a police officer on July 21, 2024. Humiliated and desperate, Amatodor recounts how the officer seized his phone and transferred 3,700 GHC to himself before letting him go.
“I called some of my colleagues to help cancel the transaction, but the damage was already done,” he says.
Justice Solomon Offei, 43, also shares a chilling tale of police intimidation. He was threatened with being labeled a wanted armed robber unless he complied with the officer’s demands for compensation. “The fear of being wrongfully accused and shot was overwhelming,” Justice recalls.
Mr Nathaniel Katei, Deputy National Coordinator of the Okada Riders Association acknowledges the essential role of the police in maintaining law and order. However, he emphasized the need for officers to perform their duties with professionalism and respect for the rights of Okada riders.
“We are not against the police doing their job,” the spokesperson said. “We just want them to treat us with the dignity and respect that every human being deserves.”
Members of the Association have therefore announced plans to document incidents of police misconduct using secret cameras.
The collected evidence will be submitted to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to ensure appropriate action is taken. They reiterated that their actions are not against the police but against the persistent harassment and abuse they have faced.
By Godwin Asediba
