Some opinion leaders at Ewusiejoe, in the Ahanta West municipality of Western Region, have threatened to ban Okada business in their community as a result of numerous accidents being caused by the riders.
The assembly member for the electoral area, Mr Odoom, who disclosed this to journalists, spoke of a scheduled meeting between the leaders and riders to deliberate on the issue.
He said the intended ban is to help save the lives of the people, particularly adolescent boys and school children who are regularly being knocked down by over speeding riders.
Deaths
Mr Odoom lamented that deaths caused by Okada riders are becoming rampant at Ewusiejoe, stressing that not less than five persons are killed before the end of every week with many others sustaining various degrees of injuries.
Last Wednesday, for instance, he said, a 13-year old boy was knocked down by an Okada rider. The victim can still not talk and is in a critical condition at the Agona Nkwanta government hospital. According to him, the accident victims usually have their legs, arms and heads fractured, resulting in excessive bleeding and death.
He noted that although the Okada boys are constantly being arrested by the police, with their motorbikes seized, this is not enough to stop them from reckless riding.
Ban
In his view, total ban is the antidote to their reckless operations in the community.
Ironically, this is the very business that former President John Dramani Mahama promised, during last year’s electioneering campaign, to promote it he was given another mandate.
Besides sleepless nights being given them by Okada riders, residents of Ewusiejoe are said to be battling with chieftaincy disputes and therefore have no peace of mind.
Information available to the Daily Statesman indicates that the community currently has two chiefs, with one of them supported by the traditional council.
The assembly member however declined to comment on it, saying he is not comfortable meddling in issues relating to chieftaincy.
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