About 300 commercial motorcycle riders (Okada) have received road safety management training as part of an initiative by Gold Coast Mobility Innovations to professionalise the motorbike transport sector and improve public safety.
The Founding Partner of Gold Coast Mobility Innovations, Mr. Ras Mubarak, told The Ghanaian Times on Wednesday in Accra that the company has also developed a ride-hailing mobile app specifically designed for motorbike transport services.
“The motivation behind the initiative is the lack of proper training and regulation in the okada transport sector,”
— Ras Mubarak
According to him, this effort is aimed at restoring dignity and order to the okada business.
Mr. Mubarak explained that the company is offering free training to commercial motorbike riders to improve:
Road safety
Customer service
Public perception
He noted that many riders often disregard traffic rules, posing serious risks to themselves and their passengers.
The training covered key areas such as:
Road safety and defensive riding
Customer care and appearance
Financial literacy (added by a partner)
In addition to the training, riders received free items, including:
Helmets
Phone holders
Reflective jackets
“We even give stipends to participants during training. We want to bring respect to okada riders, just like people respect DHL or FedEx riders,”
— Ras Mubarak
The new ride-hailing app developed by the company screens every rider, requiring:
A valid Ghana Card
A commercial rider’s license
Background checks for verification
The app also displays the rider’s:
Name
Photograph
Registration number
This visibility aims to boost passenger trust and support national security efforts.
Although the project is currently private, Mr. Mubarak revealed that the company is in talks with government agencies, including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), to:
Reduce license fees
Encourage legal registration
“If the fees are reduced, more will register, and DVLA will not lose anything. In fact, it will help the whole country,” he stated.
Dr. Mohammed Sumaila, another partner in the initiative, added that the training also covered basic financial literacy.
“Many okada riders earn decent income daily but struggle to manage their money. So they were taught basic financial skills to help them save and plan for the future.”
He also announced future plans to:
Expand training to other regions
Partner with telecom providers to offer free data for app users
Collaborate with motorbike suppliers to provide hire-purchase arrangements for riders in need of bikes
Mr. Mubarak noted that the initiative, which began in Liberia and Sierra Leone, is aimed at:
Reducing accidents
Improving rider professionalism
Making okada a respected and efficient part of Ghana’s transport system
By: Agnes Opoku Sarpong
souce : https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/
