{
  "id": 12767190,
  "title": "Rwanda’s commercial motorcycle transport: A model Ghana could learn from",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/rwandas-commercial-motorcycle-transport-a-model-ghana-could-learn-from",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T02:27:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Chronicle Ghana",
    "slug": "the-chronicle-ghana",
    "url": "https://thechronicle.com.gh/rwandas-commercial-motorcycle-transport-a-model-ghana-could-learn-from/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Motorcycle transport, known as \"Okada,\" plays a significant role in commercial transportation in both Rwanda and Ghana. However, while the practice is both legal and regulated in Rwanda, it remains illegal in Ghana. In Rwanda, the system enjoys significant public trust, with authorities actively promoting the use of electric motorcycles to minimize noise and emissions. Safety remains paramount, and the use of safety gear by both operators and passengers is strictly enforced. \"The helmet protects the head,\" explains Munezero Theoneste, a motorcycle taxi operator in Kigali, adding that operators are allowed to carry two passengers—one for the rider and one for the passenger. Violations of traffic regulations attract sanctions, including fines and additional charges if unpaid. Passengers are also held accountable for adhering to safety measures, with failure to do so potentially resulting in up to 15 days of detention. Many Rwandans perceive motorcycle transport as a convenient and safe option for commuting, citing the adherence to traffic regulations and professional conduct among riders. However, in Ghana, commercial motorcycle operators, commonly referred to as Okada riders, operate outside the existing road traffic regulatory framework, leading to concerns about safety and road crashes. Unlike in Rwanda, the use of safety gear and professional standards for commercial motorcycle operators is not consistently enforced in Ghana. Christopher Amuzu, an Okada rider, notes that while helmets offer protection against head injuries during crashes, many riders and passengers often refuse to wear them. \"Even though the helmet provides safety and prevents head injuries during a crash, many of us don’t usually wear it. Our passengers equally don’t like wearing helmets. Sometimes we offer them helmets, but they reject them, saying it will mess their hair, particularly the women,\" he says. Another Okada rider, Kwaku Antwi, raises concerns about professionalism among many operators. \"There’s also no sense of professionalism for many of us. Even the way they dress is not encouraging,\" he adds. Although the government has not yet legalized commercial motorcycle transport in Ghana, the Okada Riders Association of Ghana (ORAG) argues that the absence of a formal regulatory framework hampers the enforcement of safety and professional standards. Michael Kofi Owusu, the National President of ORAG, explains that operators find it challenging to enforce safety measures due to the lack of legal status. \"We can’t ensure strict compliance because the business is not legalised. Sometimes when we approach riders and try to admonish them to observe safety rules and appear professional, they tell us they are not commercial riders because there’s no distinct plate for us,\" he explains. ORAG, which has studied the Rwandan system, urges the government to expedite efforts to legalize commercial motorcycle transport in Ghana. \"The Rwandan system is a perfect model that can be adopted in Ghana. It will ensure the safety of riders and passengers and also restore sanity in the system. The government has assured us, and we know the legalisation process is advanced, but we’d be glad if they expedited the process,\" adds the ORAG President.",
  "summary": "The use of motorcycles for commercial transport has become common in both Rwanda and Ghana. However, while the practice is legal and regulated in Rwanda, commercial motorcycle transport, popularly known as “Okada”, remains illegal in Ghana. In Rwanda, the system has built significant public trust, with authorities also promoting the use of electric motorcycles to reduce noise and emissions. […]…",
  "key_points": [
    "Okada motorcycle transport legal and regulated in Rwanda, illegal in Ghana.",
    "Rwanda promotes electric motorcycles for reduced noise and emissions.",
    "Ghana lacks formal regulatory framework, hindering safety enforcement."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Ghana's failure to regulate commercial motorcycle transport leaves riders and passengers vulnerable to safety risks, unlike Rwanda where a regulated system enjoys public trust and promotes safety and professionalism.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}