According to the group’s leadership, this will help to identify and monitor the activities of their members.

The National Public Relations Officer, Solomon Akpanaba, made the call on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem show on the back of the Red light campaign.

“Crossing the red light is a petty offence but we always see motor riders do that and we don’t know whether they are our members or not because of the helmet and nose masks.

“As I speak now, there are a lot of courier services. So we will plead with the government to help us with the tags so we can fish out the lawbreakers and deal with them,” he said.

Meanwhile, the National President, Mohammed Tijani, who added this voice to the call, noted they have their stickers ready and will be happy if the government will regularise the business and give them the green light to paste them on their bikes.

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Proper regulation and directives are what the riders are calling for, to bring dignity to their profession.

They explained that the absence of an actual directive for registering the business is giving the police room to take unnecessary advantage of them.

Deputy National Public Relations Officer of Okada Riders Association, Adande Kojo, speaking on the issue, argued that the acceptance of their job will reduce the unemployment rate in the country.

They are pleading for a station uniform, special number plate to differentiate private motor riders from commercial ones to make identification easier when they flout the laws.

In an interview with Adom News, some of the protesters denied they are major causes of accidents, and pinned the blame on police officers.

They added that they are treated like armed robbers and an offence that requires warning is rather approached with warning shots, which in turn leads them to speed off.

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They cited an instance where two people are in critical condition at Buduburam after a Police Patrol team fired warning shot at some Okada riders and passengers.

They are, therefore, calling on the Inspector-General of Police to call his men to order against extorting monies from them.

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The Police failed to announce the intent of their presence but some leaders of the Association, to ensure calm, said the police were there to enforce the public order act.

The riders said they had no plans of demonstrating and that the press conference was to support calls for the legalisation of the ‘Okada’ business as promised by former President John Dramani Mahama.

The armed policemen did not listen to the explanation of the Association’s leaders, forcing them to move the programme to a different location.

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However, the Okada riders said no amount of intimidation would stop them from holding series of press briefings to make their point.

The Secretary of the Greater Accra Riders Association called on the ruling regime to consider the calls for the legalisation of the business.

Public Relations Officer of the Association, Solomon Akanaba, said there is a possibility of endorsing the candidate of the NDC for having them in mind.

That notwithstanding, he insisted they will not vote for Mr Mahama solely on his policy to legalise okada but the feasibility of other policies will be weighed.

Meanwhile, Executive Director, Road Safety Advocate Ghana, Nana Annor Amihere, said the okada business is life-threatening and must not be considered as far as transport is concerned.

However, in response, Mr Akanaba, making statistical reference from newspapers, argued that anyone who has such a perspective of Okada is simply not serious, adding that car ranks higher than motorbike accidents.

He was hopeful Mr Mahama’s administration will fulfill its promise after making such a public statement.

Mr Akanaba explained it is the wish of the members to officially register their Association, a dream he believes will come true if Okada is legalised.

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The hopes of Okada riders were raised high when presidential hopeful, Mr Mahama, announced he will lay down rules and regulations that would guide Okada riders in their line of duty, thereby making it approved as a means of transport.

The Association has also pledged to abide by all rules necessary to sustain their business.