I relocated from Accra to Tamale in March last year, and one very alarming issue that caught my attention was the riding of motorcycles by juveniles/children which I later realised was the norm here in Tamale. I saw children as young as 12 years riding motorbikes and guess what, some of these children even carried passengers younger than themselves.
It baffles me to think that a parent or guardian will hand over the key of a motorcycle to a child. The question I ask myself is, are these people aware that their actions and inactions are against the laws of Ghana?
On 12th October 2024, a day the Lord made, turned out to be a memorable day for most Ghanaians because of the reckless and extremely dangerous driving of a 16-year-old boy which resulted in the death of two twelve-year-old girls. Unfortunately, it seems some have not learnt a lesson from this gruesome act or they are just ignorant of their actions and inactions.
I went to renew my driver’s license with a staff of my office at the Tamale office of the DVLA. I asked her if she had a license since she rides a motorbike; and I sometimes become her passenger. She innocently told me she does not have. I asked her why; she told me it is because she is not the owner of the motorbike. She confessed that she always thought that it was only the owner of a vehicle or motorcycle that needed a license. I therefore educated her briefly on what the law says. I am sure there are numerous people with such thoughts.
The law does not state that an owner of a motor cycle’s valid license covers any other rider who uses that motor cycle. Every rider must have his or her own valid license whether or not he or she owns a motor cycle.
What does the law say on riding motor bikes in Ghana?
Part 4 of The Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683) deals with licensing of Drivers of Motor Vehicles.
Section 53 of the Act states that ‘except as otherwise provided in this Act, a person shall not drive a motor vehicle of any description or class on a road unless that person is a holder of a driving licence authorising that person to drive a motor vehicle of that description or class. A person who contravenes a provision of this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months or both the fine and the imprisonment.
Section 56 of the same Act also states that; a driving licence shall not be granted to an applicant unless the applicant has satisfied the Licensing Authority that the applicant has
(a) passed the prescribed test of competence,
(b) held a licence issued by the Licensing Authority, authorising the applicant to drive a motor
vehicle of the class or description,
(c) held a licence issued by a competent authority in any other country authorising the applicant to drive a motor vehicle of the class or description which the applicant would be authorised, by the driving licence for which the applicant is applying.
Revocation of Licence
Section 60 of the Act also is on driving after refusal or revocation of licence. It states that a person commits an offence where that person drives a motor vehicle in respect of which the
Licensing Authority has refused to grant a licence or has revoked the licence and that person is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both the fine and the imprisonment.
Section 65: Disqualification of persons under age
(1) A person is disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence to drive,
(a) an invalid carriage, if that person is under eighteen years;
(b) a motorcycle, if that person is under eighteen years;
(c) a commercial vehicle, if that person is under twenty-five years;
(d) an agricultural tractor, if that person is under twenty-one years; or
(e) any other motor vehicles, if that person is under eighteen years.
What shocks me most is the fact that the Police and other relevant authorities do see these children but take no action to correct or address this canker. Some of these children are allowed to ride their parents’ motor bikes to school. The question i ask myself is, what is the use of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Region?
It is high time we make the laws of Ghana relevant for it to work. I employ the Ghana Police in the Northern Region especially Tamale, to sit up before havoc befall the city. The community should be educated on the law on driving and riding motor vehicles. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
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