The National Okada Riders Association of Ghana has issued a statement addressing recent incidents involving police harassment and accusations following the tragic motorbike accident at the Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science And Technology (KNUST) Junction.
The association strongly asserts their innocence in the incident and shifts blame to a stationary vehicle involved in the collision.
“We have noticed that after the notorious April 17 motor bike accident that claimed the life of VISIBILITY UNIT police officer at the Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science And Technology (KNUST)Junction, Ghana police especially within the Accra regional command have intensified their harassment, confiscation of motor bikes and extortion of our poor but hardworking members of our association.”
In a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Greater Accra Command, the association expresses concern over intensified police actions, including bike confiscations and alleged extortion from members.
“Having made this our observation clear, we want to tell our indefatigable IGP in plane language that WE THE OKADA RIDERS ARE INNOCENT in the kumasi police accident case. If Ghana police is looking for who to blame, we want to tell them to go after driver of the stationary vehicle with registration number GM-445-13 which the visibility police officer on duty at the area, in attempt to track down a rider, got collided with.”
They urge authorities to consider the socio-economic challenges faced by their members and curb such practices.
The association has highlighted instances of alleged double extortion by the police and warns of potential damage to the reputation of the police force if such actions persist.
“There are instances where a rider whose bike is confiscated by the police is asked to pay ghc 250 ,he pays and take the bike away, only to be arrested by the police at the next traffic light junction and is charged this same amount. If care is not taken, this attitude of the police can lead to a situation that will dent the good image of our hardworking IGP and the police institution in general.”
The letter, signed by Akpanaba Solomon, National Public Relations Officer (P.R.O), is copied to various stakeholders including the IGP, Accra regional police command, National Road Safety, Ministry of Roads and Transport, and media stations.
This statement from the Okada Riders Association seeks to clarify their stance on recent events and appeal for fair treatment from law enforcement.
Find below the letter
OUR REF/116/07/2024
NATIONAL OKADA RIDERS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA
AN OPENED LETTER TO THE IGP AND GHANA POLICE (GREATER ACCRA COMMAND)
Dear Sir,
WE DIDN’T KILL POLICE OFFICER AT KNUST–KUMASI.
We noticed that after the notorious April 17 motor bike accident that claimed the life of VISIBILITY UNIT police officer at the Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science And Technology (KNUST)Junction, Ghana police especially within the Accra regional command have intensified their harassment, confiscation of motor bikes and extortion of our poor but hardworking members of our association.
Having made this our observation clear, we want to tell our indefatigable IGP in plane language that WE THE OKADA RIDERS ARE INNOCENT in the kumasi police accident case. If Ghana police is looking for who to blame, we want to tell them to go after driver of the stationary vehicle with registration number GM-445-13 which the visibility police officer on duty at the area, in attempt to track down a rider, got collided with.
Also, we know that the law doesn’t support our operations for now but we are begging the police regional command of Accra to talk to their men in the field to make a sober of the current hardship Ghanaians are going through, and do something about the nature of extortion of our members.
There are instances where a rider whose bike is confiscated by the police is asked to pay ghc 250 ,he pays and take the bike away, only to be arrested by the police at the next traffic light junction and is charged this same amount. If care is not taken, this attitude of the police can lead to a situation that will dent the good image of our hardworking IGP and the police institution in general.
Lastly, we want to tell Ghana police that all the documents they have been asking from us, we have evidence that the deceased police officer in question was equally guilty of, at the time he was chasing another rider, leading to the accident.
Thank you sir.
Your faithful,
Akpanaba Solomon (national P.R.O)
Cc.
IGP,
Accra regional police command,
National road safety,
Ministry of roads and transport
Bureau of public safety,
All media stations.
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