Parliament passes road traffic amendment bill, legalises 'Okada' operation

Parliament has approved the Road Traffic Amendment Bill, 2025, paving the way for the commercial use of motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles under a formal licensing regime.

The legislation, passed on Wednesday, 10 December, also revises Ghana’s legal alcohol limit for drivers and introduces stiffer sanctions aimed at curbing drink-driving.

Presenting the bill, Minister for Transport Joseph Nikpe Bukari said the reforms are designed to bring order to a transport ecosystem that has, for years, operated with regulatory gaps and weak enforcement.

He told MPs the amendments are meant to “sanitise” road transport services by tightening punishment, strengthening safety measures and promoting more efficient use of the country’s roads.

For the first time, the law formally legalises and regulates the operations of commercial riders – particularly the over one million motorcycle and tricycle operators who have long worked in a legal grey area.

Government believes the new framework will:

Open up additional employment pathways for young people; and

Provide clear rules on licensing, training and enforcement for riders and operators.

The amended law also adjusts the legal threshold for blood-alcohol concentration in drivers. Lawmakers argue the revised limit will make enforcement more practical while helping to reduce avoidable crashes linked to drink-driving.

Alongside the new limit, the bill introduces tighter penalties for offenders as part of a broader push to tackle road carnage. Ghana records roughly 2,000 road deaths each year, with motorcycles accounting for a significant share of fatalities in urban and peri-urban areas.

The Transport Ministry says the revamped regime will confront these risks through:

Mandatory rider training;

Compulsory protective gear; and

Harsher sanctions for breaches of the law.

The amendment forms part of a wider suite of transport reforms expected in 2025, including upgraded safety standards, data-driven enforcement and closer coordination among security and regulatory agencies.

With the bill now passed, the Ministry of Transport is expected in the coming weeks to issue detailed guidelines covering:

Commercial licensing procedures for motorcycle, tricycle and quadricycle operators; and

Timelines and modalities for full enforcement of the new rules.