Update: ABC Secretariat, SLP, SLRTA, and bike riders sign MOU
In a move to address the spate of accidents caused by Okada Riders countrywide, the Attitudinal and behavioural Change (ABC) Secretariat has on Wednesday February 22nd 2012 entreated the riders to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Sierra Leone Police and Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority at the Ministry of Information and Communication Conference Room at Youyi Building in Freetown. (Photo: Executive Director and National Coordinator watch the National President Bike Riders sign the MOU)
Welcoming attendees at the epoch ceremony, the Minister of Information and Communications, Alhaji Ibrahim Ben-Kargbo described the occasion as a milestone in Sierra Leone’s traffic sector. According to Minister Ben-Kargbo bike riders are contributing greatly to the socio-economic fabric of the country’s economy. In this light he advanced that, the riders must exercise caution in providing their services.
Hon. Information Minister of Communications making a statement
The Minister of Information and Communications commended the ABC Secretariat for their relentless effort in bringing the stake holders – Bike Riders, Sierra Leone Police and Sierra Leone Transport Authority to sign the meaningful document. He urged the diverse actors to ensure that the terms of the MOU are respected and espoused since it will not only address the rift that have been existing among riders, police and traffic wardens, but will also curtail avoidable accidents caused by motor bikes. He concluded by registering the ruling All Peoples Congress government appreciation of the MOU and promised that it will soon be forwarded to parliament for it to be enacted into law.
Executive Director making a statement
In his declaration of purpose and intent of the Executive Director of ABC Secretariat Dr. Ivan Ajibola Thomas declared that the MOU serves as an instrument that will help the various concerned agents to change from their bad attitudes and behaviours. Dr, Thomas maintained that unlike Sierra Leone, bad attitudes of riders caused the mode of Okada transportation to be banned in countries like Ghana since this mode of transportation cannot be currently be banned in Sierra Leone, the Executive Director of ABC Secretariat said his institution thought it fit to put measures in place to make it sage and more resultful.
He stressed that all the terms of the MOU were unanimously agreed upon during series of consultative meetings the ABC secretariat held with the actors within the Okada business, and assured that its contents are brief, understandable and user friendly.
Making a statement the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr Gilbert H. Cooper pointed out that the MOU is an important document that will not only help the Okada Riders, Police and Traffic Wardens, but the citizenry at large.
Commenting on the relevance of the MOU, the Director of Operations Sierra Leone Police, AIG Al Shek Kamara thanked the ABC Secretariat and all those who helped in diverse ways to formulate the MOU document. In his view the MOU will help to rebrand the image of his institution that have constantly be blamed for harassing and extorting monies from riders. The MOU he said will make police work easier and road safety remarkable. He encourages Okada riders to abide by the terms of the MOU and urged the officers of Sierra Leone Police to effect the document to its fullest.
The Director of Road safety and Enforcement attached to the Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority, Mr. Abu Bakarr Amara indicated that, the MOU will help his institution to affect its mandate since in its absence most riders were riding recklessly and showed no respect for road signs and traffic rules.
On his part the National President of Bike Riders Union, Daniel tucker welcomes the MOU and called for it to be espoused. Daniel Tucker assured that, through proper sensitization of riders terms of the MOU his members will live by its contained terms.
National Coordinator and Second-in-Command making a statement
Giving an overview of contents of the MOU, National Coordinator and Second-in-Command of ABC Secretariat, Madam Nanette Thomas mentioned that issues like registration and insuring bikes, obtaining licences, over speeding, over-loading, use of helmets, avoiding use of drugs and wearing of safety cloths by riders are stressed in the MOU. She underscored that if terms of the MOU are observed the problems caused by riders would be a thing of the past.
Please see below the signed MOU by all parties
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