CVM Rebukes Mahama Over Okada Campaign

A campaign promise by former President John Mahama, Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to decriminalize and regulate the use of motorbikes as a commercial means of transportation has sparked a never-ending debate and the latest to add its voice is the Concerned Voters Movement (CVM) headed by Mr. Razark Kojo Opoku.

The use of motorbikes as a commercial means of transport, mostly known as ‘Okada’ is very popular although illegal in Ghana. A campaign promise to make sure it is regulated under an NDC government has become a topical political issue.

Below is the CVM statement on the matter:

The youth of this Country deserve better and decent jobs with well-paid salary than Okada business which serves as a means to an end.

Most of the youth who are Okada riders are doing it because of lack of available jobs. Most of them too were unable to have access to free Senior High School due to John Mahama and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) Administration.

The NPP Government is committed to ensuring that every Ghanaian would be employed in a decent working environment with well-paid salary that is why since the coming into office, Akufo-Addo led Government has committed a lot of resources to the establishment of ‘One-District-One-Factory’ (1D1F) policy under Public-Private Partnership.

The successful completion of the 1D1F would give an opportunity to Ghanaians including Okada riders to work in those established factories. Even if they still want to operate the motorcycle they would be employed in the delivery unit of the factories under 1D1F as Professional Dispatch Riders with better income than what they are earning currently.

Instead of John Mahama thinking outside the box and coming out with an initiative that would create decent and well paid jobs for the youth he is rather doing propaganda with Okada riders, even though Mahama’s administration was the one which enacted a law to ban Okada business in Ghana.

It is important to point out that, the Akufo-Addo led Government has already started a consultative process and engagement with the okada riders to see how best they can earn a living while waiting for the 1D1F across all the districts in Ghana. As it stands now most Okada riders go about their business without any form of intimidation from NPP Government even though Mahama’s Government enacted a law to get them arrested.

The question is, would the Okada riders prefer to remain as Okada riders forever?  Absolutely not. They need much better jobs than that.

Most of the Okada riders can take advantage of NPP Government’s policies such as Planting for food and Jobs, Rearing for food and jobs, 1D1F, NABCO etc.

While the NPP Government believes in building a modern society coupled with solid economic development, the NDC on the other hand is bent on sending the Country onto the path of retrogression.

Most of the youth who are currently working as Okada riders would stand a great chance of working in factories created by Akufo-Addo’s Government under 1D1F as Professional Dispatch Riders with better salary and condition of service. This concept is far better than Mahama’s position on Okada business

 

… Signed…

Razak Kojo Opoku

(CVM Founder and President)