They take GH¢100, sometimes GH¢200 – Okada riders allege police extortion in Accra

Some commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada riders, in Accra have raised concerns over alleged extortion by officers of the Motor Traffic and Transport Directorate (MTTD) during traffic enforcement operations.

The riders claim they are sometimes asked to pay money without being given clear explanations for the alleged traffic offences.

One rider who spoke to Citi News said officers sometimes demand varying amounts during enforcement operations.

“All they say is they are doing an operation. They can take like GHC100, and sometimes GHC200,” the rider said.

Traffic offences in Ghana are governed by the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026, L.I. 2519, which set out offences and penalties for motorists, vehicle owners, commercial transport operators, motorcycle and tricycle riders, passengers and pedestrians.

The offences include drink driving, speeding, jumping red lights, using a mobile phone while driving, and failing to use the required safety gear.

However, some Okada riders say the enforcement of these laws has, in some instances, become a source of abuse and alleged extortion.

They claim that after being stopped or arrested, they are sometimes given little explanation about the alleged offence. Some also allege that payments are demanded at police stations before their motorcycles are released.

The riders say such payments can directly affect their livelihoods because their motorcycles are their main source of income. They are therefore calling for traffic enforcement to be conducted fairly and transparently.

The concerns come amid wider scrutiny of alleged bribery involving police officers. Data released by the Ghana Statistical Service in August 2026 showed that the Motor Traffic and Transport Directorate recorded the highest bribery interaction rate among police units, at 54.6 per cent.

The issue has also featured in recent disciplinary action by the Ghana Police Service. Seven officers in Accra were interdicted after a patrol team allegedly stopped a citizen, demanded an illicit payment and forced the victim to withdraw cash from an ATM.

Anti-corruption campaigner Bright Ofori believes stronger measures are needed to improve accountability in traffic enforcement.

“The police should strengthen its disciplinary systems and make use of bodycams too, as other countries have adopted,” Bright Ofori said.

The Ghana Police Service has also introduced TraffiTech-GH, an automated traffic law enforcement system designed to digitally monitor roads and support the enforcement of traffic regulations.

The system is expected to reduce reliance on manual enforcement and improve transparency in the handling of traffic offences.

For the Okada riders, the key concern remains how traffic laws are enforced. They want officers to be held accountable while ensuring that riders are treated fairly during police operations.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.