The Coastal Development Authority (CODA) has refuted allegations regarding the abandonment of certain mini cars intended for the phased replacement of ‘okada’ operations in Ghana through the CODA Drive initiative.
In an official statement, CODA firmly denied the accuracy of the mentioned report, deeming it “blatantly untrue, malicious, unfounded, and entirely without merit, aiming solely to create negative sentiments toward the Authority and the Government.”
In the lead-up to the 2020 elections, the New Patriotic Party administration pledged to eliminate okada operations by introducing Bajaj Qute vehicles, accessible through hire-purchase arrangements, thereby enhancing safety in transportation and generating job opportunities for the youth.
The ‘CODA drive’ program was inaugurated in October 2021 to fulfill this commitment.
Approximately two years post-launch, a number of social media commentators alleged that the vehicles had been neglected, exposed to the elements. This report was subsequently propagated by Pulse Ghana.
Yet, on August 21, CODA issued a clarifying statement, confirming that only 100 vehicles were procured.
Furthermore, CODA emphasized that the vehicles garnered substantial interest and high demand, debunking the claim that they had been abandoned due to weather conditions.
The statement also vehemently contradicted a reported cost of GH¢85 million, asserting that the actual expenditure for the procurement of 100 CODA Drive Vehicles was GH¢25,000.00 per unit, amounting to a total of Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis.