By Vanessa Adjei
When they said look before you leap, they actually meant that when crossing the road even at the traffic stop, you should still check for a motorbike. Yes! That is the level of indiscipline, reckless and intolerant these riders have been.
The conversation around this particular topic of reckless riding of bikes had become one too many and nothing was being done about it. Former President Mahama told Ghanaians he was going to legalize it, but, President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo said he would rather give the riders cars to replace their bikes. Infact, listening to both Presidents I was thrown off guard because to me it’s a total waste of time if the laws are not properly enforced.
Until recently it was very serious and it’s still serious however, it was a message soothing in the ear when the Police introduced Police Action Against Rider Indiscipline, OPERATION PAARI. It is to deal with rider indiscipline on the country’s roads.
As part of the initiative, a rigorous exercise was started a couple of weeks ago to monitor motorbike riders. Starting with Weija and Odorkor 154 bikes were seized. During a tour to these places, it was revealed that 40 motorbikes were seized and 31 released to owners. Addressing the riders, the Weija District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Freeman Kumashie stated that the exercise would continue and so, riders should be careful.
At Odorkor out of the 114, 60 bikes were released. Giving them their letters, Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Rev. John Opoku advised riders to think about their safety and that of their families.
Director General of the MTTD, COP Aboagye Nyarko overruled the notion that Junior Officers on the roads are the cause of the indiscipline saying that with the help of the Body Cameras, any Officer who is found receiving money from offenders shall be investigated and dealt with accordingly.
Meanwhile, Day two of the OPERATION PARRI saw another set of 66 riders being cautioned against indiscipline use of motorbikes on the country’s roads. However, the number of riders since the start of the exercise has reduced, this the Coordinator of PAARI, attributed to the effectiveness and how successful the exercise has been.
This exercise covered three areas, which are MANNET Estate, Madina and East Legon. Addressing the media, Director General MTTD COP Francis Aboagye Nyarko reiterated the Service’s commitment to reducing motorbike accidents on the road.
He stressed that nobody including Officers is not above the law and for that matter anyone who flouts any of the road regulations will be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, speaking to riders they said sometimes the Police harass them unnecessarily, but, however, resolved to turn on a new leaf.
In all honesty, if this initiative is properly followed and executed, the indiscipline will eventually reduce and the road carnage also reduced because motorbikes are now a leading cause in most of the accidents on our roads. It should NOT be just talking and cautioning of riders, but meting out deserving punishment to them. It is against this background that Politicians and people in higher offices stop intervening for criminals. It delays the country’s development and even SDG Goals. Hence, this action by the Police is welcoming.
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