Over 400 commercial motorcycle riders, popularly known as ‘okada’ Tuesday morning stormed the House Parliament demanding legal recognition of their operation.

Even though the operators claim they provide vital services to ease transportation difficulties in the country, the police MTTU said their operation is illegal and has vowed to arrest them.

Joy FM’s parliamentary correspondent Sammy Darko said the ‘okada’ riders presented a petition to the leadership of house represented by the Majority Leader Cletus Avoka and Deputy Minority Leader Ambrose Derry.

They requested that they should be given the leeway to operate for the time being whilst parliament goes through the processes to amend the existing law that bars them from operating in the country.

The leadership promised to look into their concerns but asked them to operate within the laws of the land.

“…we didn’t know there is a law [that forbids our operation]… If there is a law that can create unemployment for this number of people, then I see it as a bad law. Therefore they have to look at it and review it,” Albert Acolatse, president of the group told Joy News.

According to the riders, they are ready to adopt and comply with safety measures on the roads. Meanwhile, their members have ID cards and reflective T-shirts for easy identification.

Albert Acolatse said “we want a situation where, when you see ‘okada man’ and you mention his number we know him by his name”.

He described the ‘okada’ business as “lucrative”, and judging by the high patronage, it would be very difficult to stop operating.

A former Chief Executive Officer of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority(DVLA) Joe Osei-Wusu has however kicked against the demand of the riders saying their request is “completely not a solution” to the traffic problem in the country.

The Member of Parliament for Bekwai cited the safety and environmental implications of their operation pointing to their effects on countries that have legalized their operations.

“What is the rate of accident in those countries, what is the rate of fatality, what is the rate of injury that we are getting?”

Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana