The Minority Leader, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, says legalizing and regulating okada business in Ghana will not have any adverse effect on the employment and opportunities of commercial transport drivers.
He explained that okada riders and commercial drivers already operate side by side, and that has not dwindled their opportunities.
The Minority leader was speaking at a meeting with members of Garage Associations at Sunyani Magazine in the Bono Region shortly before the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, announced the suspension of his campaign at the same meeting following concerns about the provisional voters register.
Legalizing okada, Mr Iddrisu said, will only help bring harmony and co-existence with the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other commercial driver unions.
“I have heard the argument that, the okada business will affect GPRTU and transportation. But that is not true because even today okada is working but all that his Excellency John Dramani Mahama is seeking to do, is to legalize it so that there is harmony and coexistence with GPRTU”, he added.
The Minority Leader said the People’s Manifesto, the NDC’s manifesto for this year’s election, has good news for members of the Garages Association, including providing training opportunities for those in the local automotive industry to keep them abreast with modern trends in the automobile industry.
He said the next NDC government will also collaborate with members of the Garage Association to provide state-sponsored apprenticeship training for the youth as part of efforts to equip the youth with employable skills.
Story by: Edward A. Ken-Zorre
