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Prosper Kofi Gepoase [iboujiwuraanebo@gmail.com]
Oyibi, ACCRA. February 20, 2022: A 26-year old okada rider was killed by a Hyundai truck loaded with cement at Oyibi on the Adenta-Dodowa road this morning. Isaac Teye Wayo, the commercial motorcycle rider, died instantly when his bike collided with the truck at the early hours of today. An eye witness said that Isaac was trying to overtake a Toyota Hiace mini bus from Dodowa heading towards Madina on a hill when he ran into the oncoming truck.
The driver of the slightly damaged Hyundai truck sustained minor injuries. He was taken to the Oyibi Police Station for interrogations after he was discharged.
A medical doctor at Shai Osudoku District Hospital who preferred to remain anonymous said Wayo’s body arrived at the hospital lifeless. The body is deposited at the hospital pending further investigations.
The brother of the deceased Daniel Yaw Wayo lamented: ”You were the breadwinner of the family. Now that you are gone, who will take care of us? You assumed the role of parent at a tender age ever since mum and dad passed on years back. Who will pay our school fees and utility bills?”
Okada: Blessing or curse?
Ghana has witnessed a growing number of the illegal commercial motorcycles known as okada in recent years, transporting people and goods in and around the cities. While this new form of transport aids in getting to our various destinations quickly, it also quickens others to their early graves. So I ask again: Is it a blessing or a curse? Does it actually serve its purpose and what are authorities concerned doing about that? These are known to have taken away more lives and rendered many disabled and incapacitated. Okada may be illegal, but people engaged in the business have their reasons for endangering their lives and that of others.
Abubakar Musah is an okada driver stationed at Adenta. He has survived threeserious accidents ending in one death, and another leg amputation. He himself has sustained a fractured left.
”There are no jobs in Ghana. The formal system is choked. I graduated from Koforidua Technical University in 2018 and after my national service, I had nothing doing till 2021 when I couldn’t stand the pain of hunger, shame, stigma and lack of respect. So I asked my uncle who visited Ghana from the United Kingdom to buy me a motorcycle so I could work with it and fend for my family. Now, I always have food on my table thanks to the Okada business. At least now people know I am working.
”Most of the motor bikes you see in town belong to Police officers, and so when we are arrested, some of them understand us…and they will let us go.“