The Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has linked the growing number of motorcycle-related accidents in the country to the absence of a clear legal framework governing their commercial operation.
According to the Minister, the illegality surrounding commercial motorcycle activities forced riders to operate under constant fear of arrest, often prompting them to speed excessively to evade law enforcement, a situation that significantly increased the risk of accidents.
Speaking on an interview, Mr. Nikpe said the lack of regulation created a disorderly and unsafe operating environment for riders.
“Without a legal framework, the activity was illegal, and riders were compelled to move fast to avoid the police, which made accidents more frequent,” he explained.
His comments come in the wake of Parliament’s passage of the Road Traffic Amendment Bill, 2025, which legalises the commercial use of motorcycles, tricycles, and quadricycles nationwide.
Mr. Nikpe further expressed confidence that the new law would bring structure to the sector, establish clear operational standards, improve safety, and ultimately reduce accidents linked to reckless riding driven by fear of enforcement.
