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Parliament has approved the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2025, widely referred to as the Okada Bill, paving the way for the legalisation and regulation of commercial motorcycle operations across Ghana.
The bill amends the Road Traffic Act of 2004 (Act 683) and introduces updated provisions on alcohol limits for drivers, emissions testing, and strict regulatory standards for motorcycles, tricycles, and quadricycles used for commercial transport.
According to the Majority side, the legislation marks a major step toward improving road safety, reducing alcohol-related crashes, and expanding employment opportunities for young people actively involved in the motorcycle transport and ride-hailing sector.
Debate over the bill was intense. The Minority argued that the decision was driven more by the President’s commitment to honour a campaign promise than a genuine effort to improve road safety or reform the transport sector.
Despite the disagreements, the Majority maintained that the bill is necessary to ensure robust regulation of the rapidly growing commercial motorcycle industry. Second Deputy Majority Whip Richard Acheampong stressed the importance of a clear legal framework to properly manage the sector.
The First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, who presided over the sitting, eventually put the question, leading to the bill’s passage.
