According to CitiNews at 11am, on Tuesday February 1, 2011, a group of young men numbering about 500 besieged the House of Parliament seeking the House to heed their call to legitimize the use of motor cycles for Commercial transport services in the capital.
Inasmuch as it rests within their rights granted under the 1992 Constitution, I believe their reported invasion of the House of Parliament to virtually intimidate the august House to do their bidding leaves much to be desired.
Beside the security breaches that their actions have posed the members of parliament and the staff, I am yet to understand how any individual or group of people can just organize themselves in a mob and then go to that area let alone enter the House of parliament without any notice to the Police. The Public Order Act mandates this group of young men to have notified the police in advance before they rushed to the House of Parliament to make their case.
Maybe they are unaware of the existence of such a law or they cared less about it anyway or they were just not ready to use the appropriate channels to seek redress to their grievances. I wonder what that House of Parliament would be reduced to if any group of persons can defy the Public order Act and rush there to intimidate our MPs into doing one thing or the order. Judging from what happens in other parliaments across the globe vis-à-vis threats of terrorist activities, it is only appropriate that we took security of the august House and these who work there more seriously before we are overtaken by surprise.
Commercializing motor cycle activities is not a new phenomenon in Ghana. Indeed there are many places in the Northern parts of this country that depend heavily on motorcycles for reasons which are not too different from the situation in Accra.
Foremost, commercializing their activities could be an income generating venture for those who might be attracted into the business. Motorcycles are cheaper to maintain than vehicles owing to the fact that their spare parts are readily available on the market with ever-waiting mechanics to fix a broken down motorcycle.
Indeed, it would have a direct effect on technical and skill training for those who would want to go into apprenticeship after dropping out of the mainstream educational system.
Second, commercial motorcycle users will pay tolls or taxes to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies. Payment if insurance premium would also be mandatory. It might be marginal but it will be additional revenue to the insurance firms and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies all over the country. This will ensure that only properly insured and licensed motorcycled would be operational our roads.
Third, the cost of transport fares might come down due to stiff competition between the vehicles and the motorcycles. It is noticeable that soon after the NPA review prices of petroleum products in the country, many commercial drivers take advantage of the situation and make huge profits by arbitrary increases in fares while passengers are left helpless.
In some cases, open fights erupt on-board vehicles and lorry stations over disagreement in charges. The introduction of commercial motorbikes will therefore offer a choice to the passenger as to what mode of transport one could take at a cost one will bargain for. Short distances would be covered at cheaper fares than hiring taxis for same service.
Forth, many areas that are difficult to access by road will be quite easy to reach on motorbikes.
Conversely, commercializing motor cycles might expose us to many dangers across the country. Already armed robbers use motorcycles to engage in their unholy activities including maiming their victims. More motorcycles on our roads will thus witness a rise in such case as many of these hoodlums might become motor riders overnight and rob their unsuspecting victims in their homes, in dark areas, churches, among others.
It might equally worsen the traffic situation in the capital. During the rush hour, many of these riders might incur the wrath of vehicle users as they criss-cross the traffic lights, change lanes without ample notice and clog the limited spaces on the walkways, bus stops and lorry stations.
We might just brace ourselves up for more accidents on our roads. Children, the elderly and women would be the victims. In short, lawlessness and crime might actually increase on our roads and in our neighborhood once the activities of the motorcycles are legalized.
The numbers might look manageable from the onset, but as many young men and women begin to join in the business, the police might be overwhelmed by the numbers and enforcement of laws and regulations. Chaos will be the direct outcome and frustrations on our roads might even escalate.
As it stands, I presume Parliament will take time to review the petition and engage in a wider national consultation on the matter so that as many people as possible can consider the issue and a final decision taken in the interest of the people parliamentarians represent.
Anything done in a rush today in that respect will only create more problems for road users if time is not taken to discuss this matter and broader interests sought in spite of the advantages that come with legalizing the operations of the motor cycle users.
I wish my readers a Happy New year.
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