The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) of Ghana has announced that it will no longer register individual commercial motorbike riders, known as okada operators, effective January 1, 2027. Instead, the NRSA will only register recognised okada unions and companies. This move aims to improve regulation and accountability in the okada sector. The new system will enable authorities to better identify and regulate commercial motorbike riders while strengthening self-regulation within the sector.
Under the new arrangement, individual okada riders will be required to belong to a registered union or operate under a registered company to obtain the necessary licence to operate commercially. The NRSA will provide the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) with details of members of registered unions, allowing the DVLA to register their motorcycles and issue the appropriate number plates and licences. This new system is expected to create a clearer chain of accountability.
The Director-General of the NRSA, Abraham Amaliba, announced the new system in an interview with journalists in Accra on September 30, 2026. He stated that the NRSA would register only unions and companies, and not individual okada riders. According to him, this move will enable the authorities to better regulate the sector and improve safety.
The new system is set to be launched in the last quarter of 2026, with the full registration regime beginning on January 1, 2027. The NRSA will place adverts for people and unions to start coming to register with them. The DVLA will then provide licences and number plates to registered members. This new system aims to improve regulation and accountability in the okada sector.
The planned registration system is intended to create a clearer chain of accountability by linking individual riders to registered unions or companies before they can legally operate commercially. This move is expected to improve safety and regulation in the sector. The NRSA is confident that the new system will be effective in regulating the okada sector.
According to Mr. Amaliba, the implementation of the new system will start immediately from January 1, 2027. He emphasized that the NRSA will not register individual okada riders anymore and that only registered unions and companies will be recognised. This move is expected to bring more organisation and regulation to the okada sector.
The new system has been well-received by stakeholders, who believe it will improve safety and regulation in the sector. The NRSA is expected to work closely with the DVLA and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth implementation of the new system. The okada sector is expected to undergo significant changes from 2027.
Key points
- The NRSA will no longer register individual commercial motorbike riders effective January 1, 2027.
- Okada operators will be required to belong to a registered union or operate under a registered company to obtain a licence.
- The new system aims to create a clearer chain of accountability and improve regulation and safety in the okada sector.
