Razak Kojo Opoku, President of CVM
Members of the Concerned Voters Movement (CVM) have noted that the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, former President John Mahama, is a hindrance to the youth development.
This follows the promise by the former President to legalise activities of commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as ‘okada’.
The group, in a statement signed by its founder and president, Razak Kojo Opoku, said “the youth of this country deserve better and decent jobs with well-paid salary than okada business which serves as a means to an end.”
The statement noted that “most of the youth who are okada riders are doing it because of lack of available jobs”, adding that “most of them too were unable to have access to Free SHS due to the incompetence of John Mahama and his NDC administration.”
Commitment
Mr Kojo Opoku noted that the NPP government is committed to ensuring that every Ghanaian would be employed in a decent working environment with well-paid salary, saying okada will soon not be an option for any Ghanaian.
“That is why, since the coming into office, the Akufo-Addo led government has committed a lot of resources to the establishment of ‘One District One Factory’ under Public-Private Partnership. The successful completion of the…policy would give an opportunity to Ghanaians, including okada riders, to work in those established factories,” he stated.
“Even if they still want to operate the motorcycle, they would be employed in the delivery unit of the factories under 1D1F as professional dispatch riders with better income than what they are earning currently,” he added.
Thinking outside the box
The CVM founder added that instead of Mr Mahama thinking outside the box and coming out with an initiative that would create decent and well-paid jobs for the youth, he is rather doing propaganda with okada riders, “even though Mahama’s administration was the one which enacted a law to ban okada business in Ghana”.
“It is important to point out that the Akufo-Addo led government has already started a consultative process and engagement with the okada riders to see how best they can earn a living while waiting for the 1D1F across all the districts in Ghana.
“As it stands now, most okada riders go about their business without any form of intimidation from NPP Government, even though Mahama’s government enacted a law to get them arrested,” he added.
Hope for the future
He stated that the riders would not prefer to remain so forever, adding that they need much better jobs than that.
“Most of the okada riders can take advantage of NPP government’s policies such as Planting for food and Jobs, Rearing for Food and jobs, 1D1F, NABCO,” he said,
“While the NPP Government believes in building a modern society, coupled with solid economic development, the NDC, on the other hand, is bent on sending the country onto the path of retrogression.
“Most of the youth who are currently working as okada riders would stand a great chance of working in factories created by Akufo-Addo’s Government under 1D1F as professional dispatch riders with better salary and condition of service. This concept is far better than Mahama’s backward position on okada business,” he added.
Source: dailystatesman.com.gh/Kwasi Frimpong
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