Hundreds of tricycle riders in Techiman have participated in an awareness campaign as government moves closer to formalising commercial motorcycle (okada) and tricycle (pragya) operations—one of its key campaign commitments.
In anticipation of the government’s official rollout, the National Union of Tricycle Operators has begun a nationwide sensitisation drive.
“We won’t sit idle,” National Chairman Hamza Hafiz told participants at the Techiman gathering.
He noted that operators face constant intimidation, with police confiscating bikes over minor issues, demanding bribes, and treating riders as if they were criminals. Hamza stressed that legalisation must restore respect and fairness for operators.
Among the major reforms the union is pushing for are compulsory safety training and licensing, a standard insurance package for all riders, and clearly marked stations for parking and passenger pickup.
The rally also drew attention to what many operators believe is a critical challenge: substance abuse.
According to Fuseini Salifu, the union’s Vice Chairman in Techiman, passengers frequently complain about riders who smoke marijuana before work, leading to reckless riding, disputes, and overcharging. “One careless rider gives the rest of us a bad name,” he said.
Another operator, 34-year-old Asiedu Emmanuel, shared similar frustrations, saying that police harassment is often fueled by the assumption that all riders are drug users. He hopes new regulations will distinguish responsible operators from those tarnishing the profession.
To address this, union leaders are adding drug education to their training programmes and collaborating with health NGOs to support rehabilitation.
As the sensitisation event wrapped up—and with the new Legislative Instrument to legalise their operations on the horizon—operators left with both optimism and an awareness of the challenges ahead.
