U-turn: Minority urges minister to withdraw L.I. seeking to exempt MPs from joining 'traffic congestion' same as all other road users
Following the public debate condemning why Members of Parliament should not be exempted from joining 'traffic congestion' same as all other road users, the Minority caucus in Parliament, has urged the Minister of Transport to "immediately"withdraw the proposed amendment to the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) before it matures into law after 21 days.
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There has been some proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180), which were laid in Parliament by the Minister of Transport on 14th June, 2024.
Among the amendments in the Legislative Instrument includes provisions granting certain public officials, including Ministers of State and Members of Parliament, the privilege to use sirens on the road and not be liable for exceeding speed limits.
Already, it is emergency and specialised vehicles such as fire tenders ambulances, the president, his vice, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) who are the officials who have the privilege to use sirens on the road and not be liable for exceeding speed limits.
But members of parliament want to be added to this exemption and have therefore proposed that in the Legislative Instrument currently before the house, they should also be allowed the privilege to use sirens on the road and not be liable for exceeding speed limits.
The proposed amendment of Regulation 74 of L.I 2180 will allow the fitting of sirens or bells as warning appliances on specific classes of vehicles, including those owned by justices of the Supreme Court, MPs, and Ministers of State.
This means that these individuals can use sirens to navigate through traffic.
Additionally, an amendment of Regulation 166 of L.I 2180 will exempt MPs and Ministers of State from speed limit regulations.
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This aspect of the regulations has drawn public condemnation with many asking that MPs should concentrate on fixing the problems and issues so that all road users can comfortably use the road to arrive at their destinations and shouldn't be focusing on exemptions for themselves.
Some have said if a law was to be made and say that now MPs are going to have sirens and no speed limits, chances are that the country could run into trouble and create problems on the road.
Already, the Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has justified why Members of Parliament should be exempted from joining traffic congestion same as all other road users.
Defending the proposed amendment, Mr Appiah-Kubi said the public debate specifically against MPs being added to other individuals to be exempted was "unfair" and argued that the amendment aims to enhance productivity and ensure timely arrival at Parliamentary meetings, considering the heavy traffic conditions in Accra.
He cited examples of MPs, ministers of state, and judges being arrested for trying to meet their schedules, emphasizing the need for a legal solution.
To him, the exemption would only be necessary during congested periods and clarified that it is not about privilege, but about efficiently executing their constitutional duties.
Minority Statement urging withdrawal of L.I.
But following the public reaction, the Minority in a statement dated July 16, 2024, issued by the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson urged the Minister of Transport to "immediately withdraw the said Legislative Instrument before it matures into law after 21 sitting days.
"We understand that the broader purpose of the regulations was to bring the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180) up to speed on many matters relating to the registration and licensing of motor vehicles," he said.
He said the report of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee is yet to be brought to the floor for debate and discussion.
"However, given the sentiments expressed so far, Members of the NDC Minority Caucus wish to make it abundantly clear that we stand with the Ghanaian public on this issue and wish to signal our opposition to the amendment without any reservations."
For Dr Ato Forson, the NDC Minority Caucus has taken note of the public sentiment expressed in respect of the proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180), which were laid in Parliament by the Transport Minister.
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He stated that the Minority has instructed all its members on the Transport Committee to oppose the Bill at the Committee level.
"We have instructed all our Members on the Committee to strongly oppose it at the committee level. We have also directed all 137 NDC Members of Parliament to vote en bloc against the Legislative Instrument when it is brought to the floor."
He stated that the government must rather redirect its attention to addressing the germane issues facing the people of Ghana at the moment such as high cost of living, food inflation, unemployment, high cost of fuel, the depreciation of the Cedi and the high tax regime which is forcing businesses to relocate to neighbouring countries in West Africa.