CODA drive initiative will help resolve “okada” menace
Jerry Ahmed Shaib, the CEO of the Coastal Development Authority (CODA), is optimistic the CODA drive initiative will help reduce the increasing number of okada and the risk associated with them in the country.
The drive initiative which will become fully operation later this month is aimed at eradicating poverty and creating wealth for commercial drivers, okada (commercial motorbike riders), and pragya tricycle) riders.
CODA is expected to begin with some 200 vehicles to be rolled out in two phases on pilot basis.
Speaking to Nana Yaa Mensah on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (20 October), Shaib said the initiative will help reduce the menace of okada in the country.
“There is no basis for you to have your daily sales and you will be arrested and be sent to court and be prosecuted and you will be using that money to pay the fine. As a member of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, I have seen several statistics on fatal death… it is terrible,” he said.
According to him, the long term plan is to roll out electric vehicles for beneficiaries from next year.
Purchase and payment plan
The beneficiaries of the CODA drive initiative, including okada riders, would pay the cost of purchase of the Bajaj Qute vehicle (GHC25,000) in 24 months (two years).
Beneficiaries would pay an initial 20% of the GHC25,000, which is GHC5,000, and the balance with an interest rate of 2% per annum would be spread over 24- month equal instalments.
The drive initiative is aimed at eradicating poverty and creating wealth for commercial drivers, okada, and pragya riders.
It is to also improve livelihoods and create employment by facilitating transportation for individuals and small businesses within the Coastal Development Zone.
