The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has directed the Director-General of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) to engage the leadership of the National Union of Tricycle Operators of Ghana (NUTOG) and the Okada Riders Association of Ghana (ORAG) to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on enforcement and identification.
The directive followed a courtesy call by the national leadership of NUTOG and ORAG on the IGP at the Police Headquarters in Accra on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
The meeting focused on operational challenges confronting commercial tricycle and motorcycle operators and ways to strengthen collaboration with the Ghana Police Service to improve security and crime control.
The union leaders, led by NUTOG National Chairman Hamza Hafiz and ORAG National President Michael Kofi Owusu, raised concerns over alleged harassment and extortion by some police personnel and individuals impersonating taskforce members.
They also cited the frequent impounding of tricycles and motorcycles and inconsistencies in the enforcement of regulations across regions.
As part of efforts to address security concerns, NUTOG and ORAG proposed compulsory union membership for commercial operators to make riders identifiable and traceable.
They also proposed a digital database, reflective jackets bearing unique identification numbers linked to the unions and MTTD, as well as restrictions on unregistered or hooded riding at night.
The union leaders further requested that the Police Service issue a directive to Regional Commanders to recognise NUTOG and ORAG as the official bodies representing commercial tricycle and Okada operators.
They also called for closer collaboration between MTTD and the unions during enforcement exercises and the establishment of a joint Police-union taskforce to educate operators and promote compliance before full enforcement.
In response, the IGP commended the two associations for their efforts to organise the sector and expressed the Police Service’s readiness to collaborate with them.
According to the unions, the IGP stated that, “Unionization will help crime fighting because every rider will be traceable to a union.”
He subsequently directed the Director-General of MTTD to engage the leadership of NUTOG and ORAG towards drafting an MoU covering enforcement and identification.
The engagement ended with both sides agreeing to work together to make commercial tricycle and motorcycle operations safer, legal and crime-free.
