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Government Makes U-Turn On Move To Allow MPs To Use Sirens, Exempt Them From Speed Limits
Ghana

Government Makes U-Turn On Move To Allow MPs To Use Sirens, Exempt Them From Speed Limits

by  Delali Adogla-Bessa 2 min read
  • The government has withdrawn the controversial legislative instrument seeking to amend the Road Traffic Regulations
  • The legislation would allow ministers and legislators to use sirens on their cars and exempt them from speed limits
  • This withdrawal of the LI comes after the Speaker of Parliament claimed he was unaware of a proposed legislation

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The government has withdrawn the controversial legislative instrument that would have amended the Road Traffic Regulations to allow ministers and legislators to use sirens on their cars and be exempted from speed limits.

The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, withdrew the Legislative Instrument on behalf of the Minister for Transport.

Government Makes U-Turn On Move To Allow MPs To Use Sirens
The proposed amendment to the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180) has sparked a significant public backlash and the Government has since withdrawn the LI. Source: Parliament of Ghana
Source: Facebook

The Transport Ministry laid the instrument to amend the Road Regulations Act LI 2180 on June 14.

Speaking in Parliament, Korsah said the U-turn followed extensive engagement with the leadership of Parliament.

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He also cited the concerns and protests from sections of the public.

The Minority Caucus has been vocal in its opposition to the L.I., but only after some observers had raised concerns.

IMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe, for example, questioned the proposal for exemptions in road regulations before it became a widespread concern.

The Bureau of Public Safety also said that the amendment could lead to chaos on Ghana's roads.

"I haven't seen anywhere where legislators or congressmen are given the leeway to speed and put sirens on their cars. It doesn't happen in America. It doesn't happen in the UK. It doesn't happen in Australia," the Bureau of Public Safety executive director, Dr Nana Yaw Akwada, said to YEN.com.gh earlier.

Bagbin is unaware of proposed LI

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YEN.com.gh also reported that the Speaker of Parliament claimed he was unaware of possible legislation allowing ministers and MPs to use sirens and exempting them from speed limits.

Alban Bagbin explained his side of the matter during a public lecture on private member bills at the University of Ghana recently,

“There is nothing like that before parliament, and so I thought something was being done behind my back," he said.

Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh

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Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Delali Adogla-Bessa avatar

Delali Adogla-Bessa (Current Affairs Editor) Delali Adogla-Bessa is a Current Affairs Editor with YEN.com.gh. Delali previously worked as a freelance journalist in Ghana and has over seven years of experience in media, primarily with Citi FM, Equal Times, Ubuntu Times. Delali also volunteers with the Ghana Institute of Language Literacy and Bible Translation, where he documents efforts to preserve local languages. He graduated from the University of Ghana in 2014 with a BA in Information Studies. Email: delali.adogla-bessa@yen.com.gh.

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