The hardworking Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, last week met with stakeholders to discuss the implementation of Ghana’s road traffic regulations, as part of a plan to ban the use of tricycles on highways and principal streets in the region.
The Minister also held another stakeholder engagement on plans to pass a “Clean your frontage” by-law to further improve sanitation in the region.
These are all part of the ongoing efforts by the Minister to sanitise the capital to make it relive the dream that made the previous NPP government create a ministry for the modernisation of the capital city.
So far, Minister Quartey has confirmed his strong determination to ‘Make Accra Work Again’ with tangible deeds. His sanitation drive offers a lot of hope, especially after dealing with the Agblogbloshie hurdle that had become an albatross on the necks of successive governments.
Also, his ability to move hawkers away from parts of the city, such as Madina, to ensure free flow of traffic cast him out as a person who has his eye on the ball and ready to get the job done.
Positive engagements
That is why we believe he can do it when he says he wants to rid the capital city of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as ‘Okada’, and tricycles, also known as ‘Aboboyaa’.
We do not underrate the herculean task ahead, but we have confidence in the Minister’s strategy of engagement.
Even though he has the strong will to develop the capital city, he does not impose his plans on the people. His strategy of engaging stakeholders on everything that he intends to do, while strongly articulating his position, has so far proven to be positive.
Illegality
Ghana, in 2012, outlawed the use of motorbikes for commercial transport, by enacting the Road Traffic Regulations (2012) LI 2180. Regulation 128 (1 – 4) of LI 2180 prohibits the licensing authority from registering a motorcycle to carry a fare-paying passenger.
However, the political will to rid our streets of commercial motorcycles has not been there since the enactment of the LI.
The will has so far been evasive, regardless of the havoc commercial motorcycles cause on the road on daily basis. Mention can equally be made of the spread of filth across the city by ‘Aboboyaa’ riders who overload their tricycles with rubbish from homes and markets.
Herculean, but possible
Dealing with this menace is certainly going to be a herculean task, considering the appetite we have for lawlessness in this country.
There is also the two-tier issue of lack of jobs for the youth and the commercial benefit to the young men engaged in the ‘Okada’ and ‘Aboboyaa’ business. The argument has always been about fighting the ‘hunger virus’ and why man must eat to survive at all cost.
These arguments, which often tend to ignore the realities of the problem and focus on the emotional side of things, are key instruments often played whenever the move to enforce a law is made.
In spite of the obvious challenges ahead, we believe Minister Quartey will be able to navigate his way through, and get the job well executed, with the support of all well-meaning citizens, especially key stakeholders like the media and MPs.
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