Commercial motorcycle operators, known as Okada riders, have lodged complaints in Accra that officers of the Motor Traffic and Transport Directorate (MTTD) are demanding payments during routine traffic enforcement operations. The riders say they are sometimes asked to pay amounts ranging from GHC100 to GHC200 without a clear explanation of the alleged offence.
Under the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026, L.I. 2519, traffic offences cover drink driving, speeding, red‑light running, mobile‑phone use while driving, and failure to wear required safety gear. However, some riders report that enforcement has become a source of abuse, with little or no explanation given when they are stopped or arrested. In several cases, they claim they are later required to make payments at police stations before their seized motorcycles are released.
These payments directly impact riders’ livelihoods, as their motorcycles are their primary source of income. The riders argue that enforcement should be fair and transparent, without forcing them into illegal activities or pushing them out of business.
The concerns come amid growing scrutiny of police interactions involving alleged bribery. In August 2026, data from the Ghana Statistical Service showed that the MTTD recorded the highest bribery interaction rate among police units, at 54.6 per cent. The Ghana Police Service recently interdicted seven officers in Accra after a patrol team allegedly stopped a citizen, demanded an illicit payment and forced the victim to withdraw cash from an ATM.
Anti‑corruption campaigner Bright Ofori has called for stronger disciplinary systems within the police service and greater use of technology to improve accountability. “The police should strengthen its disciplinary systems and make use of bodycams too, as other countries have adopted,” Ofori said. The Ghana Police Service has introduced TraffiTech‑GH, an automated traffic law enforcement system designed to digitally monitor roads and support the enforcement of traffic regulations. The system is expected to reduce reliance on manual enforcement and create greater transparency in the handling of traffic offences.
For Okada riders, the effectiveness of any enforcement system will ultimately depend on ensuring that officers are held accountable and that motorists and riders are treated fairly during traffic operations.
