Mr Razak Kojo Opoku, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said the party has never promised free cars to Okada Riders during the 2020 campaign .
He said it was interesting to state the facts and diffuse the propaganda from Ghanaians that ahead of the 2020 Elections, former President John Dramani Mahama promised to legalize the Okada business in the Country as well as create a facility for the purchase of more motorcycles and tricycles for the riders at a much cheaper cost.
Speaking in an interview with Mr Razak Opoku, he revealed that Dr. Mahamuda Bawumia and the NPP did promise to provide Okada riders an opportunity to buy safer vehicles through lease and pay over a period of time and at no point did the Vice-President promise to offer free vehicles to the Okada riders.
He said the commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders bought into the Okada legalization vision of John Mahama and wholly rejected the noble proposal by Dr. Bawumia and NPP.
Mr Razak Opoku said the commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders jointly formed a group known as Okada Riders Association and claimed to have a membership of about 800,000 across the Country which openly campaigned, endorsed and voted for Mr Mahama during the 2020 general elections.
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“They fully rallied behind Mr Mahama with their campaign platform dubbed, “Get Okada Votes Campaign” in the 2020 general elections”.
He said notwithstanding the rejection of Dr. Bawumia’s Hire Purchase Policy by the Okada Riders in 2020, “if they have repented and are willing to cooperate with the Government, I think the Government will put measures in place for them to acquire safer vehicles through lease and later pay over a period of time with a payment plan.”
The NPP Member noted that Mr Mahama in any case was still in a better position to provide free motorcycles and tricycles to the Okada riders if indeed Ghanaians still believed in his Okada Policy.
He said members of the NDC and the Ghanaian Public should demand from Mr Mahama to honour his promise to the Okada Riders since he enjoyed their support and votes in the 2020 elections, adding that, “the Okada business is still illegal and again not safe.
“The Hire Purchase Policy for safer vehicles for Okada riders proposed by Dr. Bawumia and the NPP Government is still the best option,” Mr Razak Opoku added.
