Opposition Builds Against Potential Law Allowing Ministers, MPs To Use Sirens, Ignore Speed Limits

Opposition Builds Against Potential Law Allowing Ministers, MPs To Use Sirens, Ignore Speed Limits

  • The government is being criticised over the proposal to allow ministers and MPs to use sirens and exempt them from speed limits
  • The Bureau of Public Safety's executive director told YEN.com.gh that this move would bring chaos to roads
  • The bureau chief has stressed that allowing more people to exceed speed limits endangers more road users

There is growing concern about the proposal to allow ministers and MPs to use sirens on their cars and exempt them from speed limits.

The Bureau of Public Safety expressed disappointment over the move, saying there were concerns about road safety and accountability.

Opposition Builds Against Potential Law Allowing Ministers, MPs To Use Sirens, Ignore Speed Limits
Opposition is building against a potential law that would allow Ghana's ministers and MPs to ignore speed limits and use sirens.
Source: Getty Images

Per MyJoyOnline the bureau has stressed that allowing more people to exceed speed limits endangers more road users.

“Furthermore, these exemptions create unnecessary risks and could lead to an increase in traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities."

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IMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe also questioned the proposal for exemptions in road regulations.

Cudjoe directed his concerns to the parliament leadership in a Facebook post.

The Transport Ministry laid an L.I. to amend the Road Regulations Act LI 2180, which will expand speed limit exemptions and other permissions to include all members of parliament and ministers of state on the roads.

This includes roads around schools, residential areas, hospital zones, parks, and recreational areas.

In comments to YEN.com.gh, the Bureau of Public Safety executive director, Dr Nana Yaw Akwada, said this move was unprecedented.

"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."

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He also called on the minister to withdraw the L.I. for Parliament immediately.

"It will bring chaos," Akwada stressed further as he called for action from the Road Safety Authority.

Lil Win charged with dangerous driving and negligently causing harm

YEN.com.gh reported that Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as Lil Win, has been charged with dangerous driving and negligently causing harm following the road crash he was involved in, which claimed the life of a three-year-old boy.

According to the law, he is facing up to seven years in prison, given the nature of the charges. The charges were given at the Asokore Mampong District Court, which granted Lil Win GH¢50,000 bail with two sureties following his arrest.

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.