The Okada Riders Association (ORAG) has announced a nationwide training initiative for motorcycle riders, conducted in close collaboration with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), and the Ghana Police Service.

The programmes are strictly membership-based, with riders required to be registered and issued membership cards before participating.

According to ORAG, there are about 13,000 registered members in Accra alone, while national membership across all 16 regions stands between 49,000 and 50,000.

The Association’s leadership described overwhelming interest in the training sessions, noting that hundreds of riders often turn up even when only a few slots are available.

This, they say, reflects a strong desire among riders to operate professionally and adhere to safety standards.

Membership is exclusively reserved for Ghanaians, with prospective members required to possess a valid Ghana Card, which serves as both identification and a prerequisite for licensing.

“If you are Ghanaian and you don’t yet have a Ghana Card, we encourage you to get one.

Without it, you cannot be registered on our database,” an ORAG official explained.

The Association also partners with a DVLA-affiliated riding school to deliver structured training programmes.

Large-scale sessions have already been conducted in Accra and the Central Region, with plans to extend the initiative nationwide.

As part of its regional outreach, ORAG has visited eight to nine regions so far, establishing leadership structures at zonal, branch, and regional levels before leaving each region.

This decentralised approach, the Association says, ensures effective management across the country.

“This is not an Association run from one office in Accra. Our structure is nationwide and fully decentralised,” the leadership emphasised while speaking in an interview on Class 91.3 FM.

The Association highlighted their commitment to professionalising the sector and promoting safe riding practices.