Parliament has passed the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to legalise and regularise the operations of motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles for commercial purposes.
According to the Committee on Roads and Transport, the purpose of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2025 is to amend the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683) to provide for the limit for the determination of alcohol concentrati on in drivers, develops standards for seat belts and other safety equipment.
Also, the amendment is to reduce the age restriction on commercial drivers and to provide for motor vehicle emission testing.
The Committee says the amendment to Act 683 is intended to create the necessary momentum for improved road safety, create employment opportunities for the youth in the country and pave the way for a comprehensive regulation of the road transport industry.
Additionally, the amendment seeks to provide a regulatory framework for fare paying passenger services and ride-hailing service in Ghana.
The government has introduced a comprehensive licensing regime aimed at regulating commercial motorcycle and tricycle operations.
Under the proposed legislation, an okada rider must meet stringent requirements including being at least 25 years old, holding a valid national ID card, and acquiring a commercial rider’s license from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). Riders must also pass a proficiency test encompassing oral, theoretical, and eye examinations.
Additional requirements include mandatory training, a unique yellow license plate, wearing of certified protective helmets with identification numbers, and membership in a recognized union. Riders are also required to provide helmets for passengers and strictly comply with traffic and speed regulations.
Okada riders throng premises of Media General to lament treatment by MTTD officers
