MP for Cape Coast South, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan is asking government to see the use of tricycles also known as ‘Pragya’ for commercial activities as part of entrepreneurship and legalize it.

Mr. Ricketts-Hagan is convinced if the issues with the use of tricycles for commercial purposes are not handled with care by government, the country could face an unemployment explosion that would be difficult for government to handle.

The ban on motorcycles and tricycles from being used for commercial purposes as enshrined in Regulations 128 of Legislative Instrument (L.I) 2180 prohibits the use of motorcycles and three-wheelers for commercial purposes, except the courier and delivery services.

But speaking at a summit dubbed ‘The Pragya Summit’ in Cape Coast, the Cape Coast South MP indicated, “We have been told that the payroll is full and therefore, the youth should become entrepreneurial. To become entrepreneurial, these are some of the things you can do. The Okada riders are entrepreneurs, some riding their now pragia or some doing it on behalf of others and getting paid.”

He added: “youth unemployment is a time bomb and we the politicians should wake up and find solutions to it. This is a security threat.”

He further indicated it was unacceptable for the country to continue to make the use of tricycles for commercial purposes illegal.

The Cape Coast Metro Assembly will on the 15th of November begin the implementation of measures aimed at restricting users of the tricycles to 25-years and above and also restrict their movement to certain areas and operational times.

But MP for Cape Coast North, Dr. Kwamena Mintah Nyarku says the law on the age requirement should be reviewed.

Mr Ricketts-Hagan indicated that he, the Cape Coast MP and the MP for KEEA would be pushing for the legalization of the use of tricycles for commercial activities in Parliament.