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The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced that the government is finalising a comprehensive regulatory framework to legalise and properly govern commercial motorcycle transport, popularly known as ‘Okada’ in Ghana.
This major policy shift follows renewed agitation from tricycle operators (Pragia) in Kumasi last week, where riders staged a protest demanding official recognition and structured oversight of their operations.
Speaking at the “Motor Riders Day Rally” on Sunday, November 23, 2025, Deputy Director for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at the DVLA, Kelvin Caternor, said the emerging legal reforms are aimed at professionalising the commercial rider sector and improving overall road safety.
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The rally was organised by the National Christian Men’s Forum—an initiative of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International in partnership with 11 Christian men’s groups—and served as a platform to educate riders on the planned regulatory regime.
Mr Caternor outlined components of the new framework:
- Mandatory licensing for commercial riders, which will require passing an oral test, a theory test, and an eye examination.
- Special registration plates for commercial motorcycles to facilitate easy identification by law enforcement.
- Compulsory helmets for both rider and passenger, each with a unique identification number.
“These measures are designed not only to enhance accountability and safety,” he noted, “but also to protect the livelihoods of riders by giving the sector official recognition and structure.”
The move marks a significant step toward regularising a transport system that has grown rapidly across urban and rural areas, despite long-standing calls for clearer legal and safety frameworks.
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