Parliament has passed the highly anticipated Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2025, popularly known as the Okada Bill, clearing the way for the legalisation and regulation of commercial motorcycle operations in Ghana.
The new law amends the Road Traffic Act of 2004 (Act 683) and introduces updated measures on alcohol limits for drivers, emissions testing, and strict regulatory standards for motorcycles, tricycles, and quadricycles used for commercial transport.
According to the Majority, the legislation will improve road safety, reduce alcohol-related accidents, and create new employment opportunities for young people, particularly those engaged in the growing motorcycle transport and ride-hailing industry.
Debate over the bill, however, was intense. The Minority argued that the move is motivated more by the President’s desire to fulfill a manifesto promise than by a genuine commitment to road safety or transport sector reform.
Despite the disagreements, the Majority defended the bill’s significance. Second Deputy Majority Whip Richard Acheampong emphasised the need for a clear regulatory framework to effectively manage the expanding commercial motor transport sector.
The First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, who presided over proceedings, ultimately put the question, leading to the bill’s passage.
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