OKADA, A CONVENIENT ILLEGALITY

Blessed weekend! A week after my 3x birthday, I have chosen to move away from partisan and communal politics for 48 hours. That sound funny I guess. Some wish I left for good whilst others wish I left for four years but 'sete waaaaa' it is only 48 hours. 12th September 2011, I will be back.

Motorbikes were not common in my area as a child until I went to Tamale in 1993. In Tamale, it was something else. That was the first time I saw a woman riding a motorbike. Oh no; don't call me bush. It is a fact. It was the first time I saw and experienced a passenger sit on the bike with his/her side towards the rider. It was 'front to back' all the time. My experinces were numerous but let me give you the last two. These are not extraordinary but they were my first time. 1. A woman riding a motorbike with a child tied at her back and carrying a load on her head. 2. A man riding a motorbike with a woman sitting behind him, carring a baby at her back; a sackful of something in front of the man.

I thought there were many motorbikes in northern Ghana until I entered Togo, Benin and Nigeria. Chaotic! In fact, the first time, I did not like the experience until I joined an Oshodi bound bus in Lagos. At the bus stop, I had to hop out because the driver wouldn't stop for the avoidance of park tickets. Having worked as a driver's mate in Ghana, hopping out of a moving vehicle was nothing to me. I already had enough experience to do so excellently but the traffic jam was beyond description. Bumper to bumper as some call it. Static traffic jam.

This experience woke me from my slumber. I begun to understand why the use of motorbikes as commercial transport was booming in Lagos. The fares were not different. Sometimes the motorbike was cheaper. In Lagos; as I experienced, transport fares varied based on what time of day and the traffic situation. Now, this is practiced in Accra where a Accra bound bus from Kasoa will load to SCC, then charge differently to Malam junction, then another to Kaneshie before Accra. In this instance, one pays about 100% more. In Lagos, if the fare is 30 Naira, it could go to 50 Naira or 70 Naira depending on the factors above.

The use of motorbikes for commercial transportation is illegal in Ghana but it is catching up very fast in almost every community. In Accra, it is fast, cheap and convenient. Akoto Lante to Tema station is GHc 1.00 using a motorbike. The same journey in a hired Taxi is Ghc 3.00 minimum. The motorbike meanders to reach earlier and charges lower. What is better than this? Gradually, people are beginning to enjoy the system. I travelled to Dzodze last weekend, it was booming. I have been to Aflao and it is there too, Keta, Anloga, Tapa Abotoase and Kpando. For Tapa Abotoase where I come from; why? you think anytime I mention my hometown it should be a boat disaster or something negative? We too, we dey biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii k3k3! the road to satelite communities like Ampehkrom, Kotokofe and others are so bad, the motorbike (OKADA) is the saviour.

In today's Ghana where 'trucks' are being registered in Vanderpuye's Millenium city, it is proper to have a look at the Okada business. My boy at Tapa Abotoase tells me he makes over GHc 2x for his master on a good day and Ghc 1x.00 on a bad day. These exclude his 'chobo'. It is taking some people off the streets, relieving some stress and enriching some others. Let us get this business formalized and put the youth into a controlled job environment. Register motorbike, legislate and let motorbikes be used for commercial transportation.

There is no doubt on my mind that anyone who uses Okada will use it again. It is convenient though illegal. Every person agrees on the illegality but its convenience makes it attractive. The state is loosing a lot of revenue from insisting that its commercial usage is illegal. The people are using it and the general citizenry is patronizing. Legalize Okada, get some revenue for the state and control the youth in the business.

Okada to me, is a convenient illegality. Legalize it and make it safe and even more convenient.