The government of Ghana is preparing to lower the minimum age requirement for commercial motorcycle riders, commonly known as “Okada” riders, from 25 to 21 years. This change comes as part of efforts to draft legislation that would formally legalize commercial motorbike operations in the country.
Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe revealed that a memorandum has already been submitted to Cabinet for consideration. He noted that the initial proposal, which aligned the Okada age limit with the existing 25-year requirement for commercial bus and taxi drivers, faced significant opposition from motorcycle rider associations. These groups argued that maintaining the 25-year threshold would exclude many young people from employment opportunities in the sector.
Speaking at a Transport and Logistics sector CEOs’ breakfast meeting, Minister Nikpe explained that the age limit issue had become a central concern during stakeholder consultations. He acknowledged that keeping the age at 25 would render many youths jobless, prompting a review of the proposed regulation.
In response, the Ministry revised its stance and formally recommended that the commercial driving age, including for motorcycle operations, be lowered to 21. The Minister expressed optimism that once Cabinet approves the updated proposal, the relevant legal amendments will follow.
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