The National Union of Tricycle Operators of Ghana has reiterated its call for the swift legalisation and regulation of tricycle and Okada operations, highlighting the sector’s role in providing jobs and reducing youth-related crime in communities.

During a sensitisation event in Wa on July 18, the National Chairman of the Union, Hamza Hafiz, addressed a gathering of riders, stressing the urgent need for government action.

According to him, the legalisation of tricycle and motorcycle transport services will not only streamline the sector but also protect the livelihoods of thousands of young people who rely on it for daily income.

National chairman Hamza Hafiz

“We are calling on His Excellency the President and the government to speed up the process. We trust the government’s commitment, but the process has been too silent for too long. We are here to show that we are ready for legalisation,” he said.

The National Union is currently on a countrywide sensitisation tour, meeting with tricycle riders in various regions to educate them on the expected regulatory framework and to demonstrate their collective preparedness for formalisation.

In Wa, the Union received strong support from local tricycle drivers who believe that legalisation will resolve some of the sector’s persistent challenges, including police harassment and the lack of designated parking spaces.

Mr. Sabogu, the Chairman of tricycle operators in Upper West, said, “When our National Union came here, they addressed almost all of our problems.

“We have issues with the police dismantling our parking stations, but the Union has spoken about this, and we believe if the government speeds up this programme, it will help us a lot.”

The riders also highlighted how the tricycle business, locally referred to as Kambu, has become a lifeline for unemployed youth, helping to curb rising crime in the community.

“Before this Kambu business started, most of the youth here were into Illegal activities, drinking, taking drugs, stealing, and robbery. Women coming back from the market in the evenings would have their money or purses snatched. But since Kambu started, most of these boys have jobs now, and those criminal activities have reduced drastically,” he noted.