Police impound motorbikes in Accra

One hundred and twenty-two motorcycle riders were yesterday arrested and their motorbikes impounded for allegedly jumping the red light at two traffic intersections in the Accra metropolis.

The riders included operators of the illegal commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, company dispatch riders and individual motor riders.

The special exercise took place simultaneously at the main Nima Traffic Intersection on the Ring Road and at the Traffic Light near the National Theatre.

At Nima, the exercise started at 8 a.m. and ended at 12 noon, leading to the arrest of 74 motor riders whose motorbikes were also seized, while at the National Theatre, the exercise started at 9 a.m., ending after an hour-and-a-half. Forty-eight motorbikes were impounded there.

As of the time of going to press, 98 of the motor riders had been processed and were scheduled to appear before a motor court today.

Push and pull
The special operation was laced with drama, as most of the motor riders tried to escape arrest by speeding off and meandering their way through traffic jams, while some policemen chased them on foot and on motorbikes.

Some of the motor riders engaged in scuffles with the policemen as the latter held on tight to their motorbikes, while the policemen tried to take the bikes from them by pulling them at the other end.

The push and pull scenario attracted the attention of other road users, with hawkers who were supposed to be busily selling their wares at some point trying to alert motor riders to the ongoing exercise.

Some motor riders were seen making sudden U-turns, either on being alerted or seeing the policemen ahead of them.

Jumping red light
In an interview, the Director General of the Technical Unit of the Ghana Police Service, Commissioner of Police Mr Frank Adu-Poku, who led the operation at the National

Theatre, said the exercise was to ensure sanity on the roads.

He said the exercise was mainly targeted at motor riders who failed to stop at traffic intersections when the light turns red.

“Crossing the red light is a criminal offence and we are going to prosecute them. This operation is to send a message to all motor riders that they cannot jump the red light and go scot free,” he said.

The Director General of Research and Planning, Commissioner of Police Ms Rose Bio Atinga, who led the operation at Nima, said the operation was to send the signal that traffic rules were not only for vehicles but for all road users to obey.

She said those arrested would be screened to find out if, apart from jumping the red light, their motorbikes were roadworthy and had insurance cover and the riders had licences.

Writer’s email: emelia.ennin@graphic.com.gh