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| WA; Capital of the upper west of Ghana |
Ghana has interesting rules when it comes to the usage of motorbikes. In the northern part of the county where i lived last year and the early part of this year, most people own and use motorbikes. This is presumably due to the poor nature of the roads and the relatively lower cost of owning and maintaining a motorbike than purchasing a car. In fact one of the things i really enjoyed whiles living in the northern part of Ghana is getting to ride (as a passenger) on a motor bike everyday. On any given day i would ride either a motorbike or a bicycle for errands. I think my obsession with riding on bikes stems from the fact that motorbikes are not predominant in the south where i came from. I always looked forward to travelling to the city (Wa) from the village during weekends. The 'getting there' part of the trip was always the most exciting for me. The sound of the strong winds on your face, the energy, the noise and the excitement as the bike traveled a 100km/hr. Whiles we left a thick cloud of dusty air behind us as we sped forward. I never got tired of looking at the beautiful northern Savanna landscapes as well as the lovely views of dam 15. I was always surprised at how kids as young as 10 and 12 could ride motorbikes whiles an adult like me couldn't. I vowed to learn how to ride so that i could purchase one when i move to Accra. But sadly all that had to come to an end after a year, i didn't learn how to ride a motorbike and I've hence moved back south.
On days that i reminisce about good times in the north, my bike rides always comes up as part as some of my favourite moments. Therefore i was surprised to find commercial motorbike services who were willing to take passengers from one part of the city to another. But the sad bit about this service it that they are illegal says the Ghana police. It is not a recognised form of commercial transport in Ghana unlike Nigeria. These motorbikes popularly know as 'Okada' though its illegal looks like its highly patronized because although the police have tried to shut them out for so many times. They find a way of weaving their way back into Ghana's transportation system. Supply usually goes with demand therefore the fact that these illegal commercial motor bike operators keep coming back into the transport system means that customers clearly keep demanding and articles such as this and this further buttresses that point. So here is where i come clean, as a transport user and a commuter i have patronised the services of the bike riders a few times. They are cheaper than a taxi cab, can weave in and out of traffic and therefore i get to where i'm going faster and is a quick easy transport fix. On most of my illegal rides on these motor bikes the riders usually ask me whether i have a motorbike of my own? After replying 'no' i usually ask them why i keep being asked that question and most riders tell me i don't seem jittery and nervous when i sit on the bike. I have the perfect balance and don't hold on to them too tight out of fear. It looked like all the riding i have been doing back in the north has payed off. Considering i was nervous and probably held on to the rider too hard back then when i started riding. These comments on the riders part make me happy but then i realise am encouraging something which is illegal, i don't get happy as much.
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