Okada debate exposes insincerity and leadership potential of politicians – Prof. Gyampo
Prof. Yaw Ransford Gyampo
Professor Yaw Ransford Gyampo says, the public debates surrounding the legalization of the Okada business has exposed the insincerity of politicians and their lack of commitment to finding lasting solutions to our problems confronting Ghanaians.
In one of his latest articles which makes everyone thinking has therefore speaks to the conscience of party supporters across the political divide, and to expose the insincerity of the politicians they die for. According to him, politicians will remain insincere, so long as we assure them of our auto-pilot support. Professor Yaw Gyampo is alao calling on partisan supporters to desist from the slumber of dogmatism and offer counter views that shapes policy promises, in a manner that helps our effort to develop Ghana.
The Leader and Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Mr. John Dramani Mahama promised to legalize, regulate and operationalize the use of Okada business when he is voted into office in the December 2020 polls. The NDC’s People’s Manifesto launch which talked about the legalization of the Okada business has generated an endless argument among a section of Ghanaians including members of NDC and NPP.
Professor Yaw Ransford Gyampo having followed discussions keenly further said, politicians should have thought through the the decision of legalizing Okada business because riding for commercial purposes also becomes indecent, if one looks at the injuries and amputations that people have suffered. In addition, he indicated that, “If you look also at the number of driving mirrors that have been broken on the road, and the innocent people who have been knocked down over the years, by Okada riders, it becomes a bit uncomfortable to support attempt at encouraging the phenomenon.”
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READ PROFESSOR YAW RANSFORD GYAMPO’S FULL STATEMENT AS COPIED TO THE FRONT DECK OF Coverghana.com.gh
1. This Okada debate exposes the insincerity of politicians and their lack of commitment to finding lasting solutions to our problems.
2. Governance isn’t always about ticking the box and pursuing shallow interventions that merely score political points and make regimes popular. We don’t develop a nation by prioritizing regime popularity over actual thought though developmental interventions.
3. The use of motorcycles for commercial purposes, as of now is illegal. But the NDC says it will regulate Okada riding, should they win power again.
4. But such a regulation panders to the force of illegality and only serves to deal with the symptoms of the problem, rather than the root cause.
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5. Okada comes in handy as a result of unemployment and the worrying traffic situation in our country.
6. Many young people, in their bid to keep body and soul together, have now resorted to Okada riding. Similarly, many of us, sometimes, including armed Police Officers, hop on Okada, just to avoid the traffic to their work places and stations.
7. I have been riding huge motorbikes from August 1998 till now, and I know how dangerous it has always been, even riding for mere pleasure and to release stress.
8. It is more dangerous to ride for commercial purpose than to ride once a while for pleasure, as there is always the urge to ride with a sense of urgency to make profit in the former situation.
9. Riding for commercial purposes also becomes indecent, if one looks at the injuries and amputations that people have suffered. If you look also at the number of driving mirrors that have been broken on the road, and the innocent people who have been knocked down over the years, by Okada riders, it becomes a bit uncomfortable to support attempt at encouraging the phenomenon.
10. I have some Okada friends, who admit that their trade is indecent and dangerous. Yet, their refrain is always “edwuna nni ho”, to wit, there is no job!
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11. The solution is for us to think about creating decent job avenues for the youth and effectively tackling our traffic situation, and not to think about an intervention that panders to these problems.
12. The NPP, apparently shaken by the NDC’s promise to regulate Okada riding, initially indicated that they were in constant talks to regulate the phenomenon. But now, we are told there will be the lease of vehicles to substitute Okada riding. One Okada, One Vehicle!
13. But the NPP’s current position will also increase the already frustrating traffic situation in the country. What can be done is for them to also think about other decent and less dangerous job avenues, in addiction to improving our traffic situation by providing effective transport systems in Ghana.
14. Our leaders have all travelled abroad before and they know the interventions that have been put in place to provide decent jobs and to solve traffic situations. Are they not aware of the subways and train networks? Are they not aware of the High Occupancy Vehicles, the creation of High Occupancy Lanes and other interventions that discourages the use of private vehicles and encourage the use of buses and trains to commute?
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15. We get worried, when politicians who know better, will choose to proffer solutions that deal with symptoms rather than causes.
16. I therefore write to speak to the conscience of party supporters across the political divide, and to expose the insincerity of the politicians they die for. Politicians will remain insincere, so long as we assure them of our auto-pilot support. Let partisan supporters desist from the slumber of dogmatism and offer counter views that shapes policy promises, in a manner that helps our effort to develop Ghana.
God bless
SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh
