The Coalition of Okada Riders and Owners Association-Ghana has said the President Akufo-Addo led New Patriotic Party government’s sudden change in the position on the legalization of the Okada business amounts to nothing but a pure vote-buying gimmick.
According to the Coalition in Press Statement copied Awake News and sighed by its Convener, Mr. Albert Elikem Fia, following their Press statement on September 3, 2020 calling on the government to state its official position on the debate surrounding the legalization of their business sparked by former President Mahama, “the President of the Republic H.E. Akuffo Addo is on record to have said that his administration will not legitimise Okada.”
Mr. Fia said, they “also heard top government officials including the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah intimating that the next NPP government would completely phase out our business come 2021.”
“A few days ago, the NDC, through their Leader reiterated their position to legalise and regularise our business. To us, it was refreshing to hear from the NDC reassuring us that when given the opportunity to lead again they will ensure our business is legitimized, this their position we consider timely, consistent and responsive to our long-standing calls for the legalization of our business.” – Mr. Fia said
Mr. Fia noted it was surprising that the Transport Minister soon after the launch on the NDC Manifesto will come “out to say his ministry was already on a road map to legitimise our business.”
“To us, this U-turn cannot be in good faith. We wish to state emphatically that neither our leadership nor our members were engaged by any ministry for dialogue, instead, we consider this attempt from government spontaneous, a knee jerk response to an overwhelming endorsement of the call to legitimize our business.” – He added
Whiles declaring their total support never the less to the NDC and former President Mahama, he said: “To us, the ruling NPP government’s sudden change of posturing on this matter is just a vote-buying gimmick.”
Read the full statement:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FROM: Coalition of Okada Riders and Owners Association-Ghana
TO: All Media House
DATE: September 11, 2020
SUBJECT: ENDORSEMENT OF THE POSITION OF THE NDC ON THE LEGALIZATION OF OUR BUSINESS.
Ladies and gentlemen, it would be recalled that we the members of the Coalition of Okada Riders and Owners Association of Ghana (COROAG) in our press release on the 3rd September 2020, sought to know the official position of the ruling (NPP) government regarding the legalisation and regulation of our business.
Subsequently, the President of the Republic H.E. Akuffo Addo is on record to have said that his administration will not legitimise Okada. We also heard top government officials including the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah intimating that the next NPP government would completely phase out our business come 2021.
A few days ago, the NDC, through their Leader reiterated their position to legalise and regularise our business. To us, it was refreshing to hear from the NDC reassuring us that when given the opportunity to lead again they will ensure our business is legitimized, this their position we consider timely, consistent and responsive to our long-standing calls for the legalization of our business.
Soon after that, the Transport Minister came out to say his ministry was already on a road map to legitimise our business. To us, this U-turn cannot be in good faith. We wish to state emphatically that neither our leadership nor our members were engaged by any ministry for dialogue, instead, we consider this attempt from government spontaneous, a knee jerk response to an overwhelming endorsement of the call to legitimize our business. To us, the ruling NPP government’s sudden change of posturing on this matter is just a vote-buying gimmick.
At our recent meeting we have resolved and wish to by this statement ;
1. Declare our full support for the opposition NDC in the run-up to the 2020 general election having involved us in deliberations towards the launch of their manifesto and subsequently considering our request in their 2020 manifesto
2. Call on all our members across the country to promote and vote massively for the NDC in order to save our business and livelihood.
3. We have tasked our team of experts to research into some modules to advise us on policy proposals to other stakeholders.
Signed:
ALBERT ELIKEM FIA
0249952156
CONVENER
KELVIN KOKROKO
0249962538
PRO
JEMIMA BOAKYE YIADOM
MEMBER ASHANTI TAFO
JIBRIL OSAM
NORTHERN REGION
SAMUEL KOFINTI
EASTERN REGION
BOATENG ERIC
GREATER ACCRA
ANDY KORANKYE
ASHANTI REGION
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com