Association lauds clampdown on motor riders


The Motor Riders Association of Ghana has lauded the recent operation by the police in Accra to clamp down on the use of motorbikes to commit crime.

It described the exercise as being in the right direction, as it would ensure road safety and reduce the incidence of criminals using motorbikes to commit crime.

  Working with the police
The President of the association, Mr Marmah Amartey, told the Daily Graphic that the police had involved the association in the exercise.

“We were aware of the exercise and we worked hand-in-hand with the police,” he said 

He explained that before the exercise, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Police Service invited the association to brief it on its intentions, adding, “But that was done at the divisional police and so we did not know the operation would take a regional dimension.” 

According to Mr Amartey, the association recognised that the exercise “would deter motor riders from riding indiscriminately on the road and obstructing vehicular movement”. 

  Profession
He said motor riding should be seen as a profession, “as even the President has motor riders going before him anytime he has to travel by road”.

However, he said as a result of the use of motorbikes for criminal activities “many people see motor riders as criminals but there are genuine people among us.”

He urged motor riders, especially members of the association, to be law abiding by ensuring that they acquire all the necessary documentation before they ride motorbikes.

  The Swoop
The Accra Regional Police Command has so far conducted two swoops in which about 2,000 motorbikes were impounded.

About 300 motorbike riders have since been put before court.

The exercise is part of an operation to curb the use of motorbikes for criminal activities. 

During the operation, motorbike riders who rode without protective helmets, licences, road worthy certificates and valid insurance policies were stopped and their motorbikes impounded.

Others who rode unregistered motorbikes or used the bikes for commercial purposes also had their bikes taken from them.

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