Asiedu Nketiah Reaffirms NDC’s Commitment to Regularise ‘Okada’ Business.

Amanfrom: The next government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) remains committed to regularising the work of commercial motor bicycle riders, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, National Chairman of the party, has reaffirmed. The NDC in 2020 promised to streamline activities of the riders popularly known as 'Okada' who also provide valuable services to the public if they won the elections. Speaking at Amanfrom in the Bantama Constituency as part of the third phase of his retail campaign in the Ashanti Region, Mr. Nketia said the party had not changed its position on the issue.According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Nketia emphasized the importance of providing training and licensing to the youth involved in the 'Okada' business to protect their livelihoods. He warned that pushing them out of work would only exacerbate the unemployment situation in the country. The National Chairman criticized Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who is also the presidential candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general elections, for allegedly misleading the riders with a promise of providing them taxis to replace their motorcycles. "I want to know from those of you, in the Okada business, whether the Vice President has given you the taxis he promised you," he queried the gathering.Mr. Nketia accused the NPP of being adept at spreading falsehoods in their quest to hold onto power and urged Ghanaians not to be deceived by their tactics. He encouraged voters to remain vigilant and not fall for what he described as desperate attempts to mislead them. Meanwhile, Mr. Kwadwo Addai Dapaah, the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Bantama, criticized the incumbent MP, Mr. Francis Asenso-Boakye, for prioritizing the construction of an Agenda 111 hospital in the constituency, arguing that access to health facilities was not a pressing issue there. Instead, he promised to establish a factory on the land allocated for the hospital project to create jobs for young people if elected.