The recent controversy surrounding a Legislative Instrument (LI) seeking permission for MPs and Ministers to use sirens and be exempted from speed limits has caused quite a stir among lawmakers in Ghana.
North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, revealed that many National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs were unaware of the LI and expressed their discontent with the proposal.
During an interview on JoyFM’s SMS show, Mr Ablakwa disclosed, “When this matter became public on our platforms, many MPs said, what is this? We are seeing it for the first time.” He further explained that even the leadership of the NDC caucus was unaware of the specifics of the LI, prompting calls for its withdrawal.
Mr Ablakwa emphasized the need to prioritize easing congestion on the roads for all citizens rather than granting special privileges to a select group. He questioned the rationale behind providing such privileges to the ruling class and criticized the proposed LI as an unnecessary distraction.
Meanwhile, Nana Akomea, the Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC), accused the NDC of hypocrisy, stating that the chairperson of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee is a member of the minority group and suggested that the LI originated from a minority-led committee.
In response to the backlash, Deputy Transport Minister Hassan Tampuli acknowledged that the LI had been withdrawn and clarified that it came from the Committee and not the government. He expressed relief over the decision to withdraw the provisions, highlighting that they were not government initiatives.
The controversy surrounding the proposed LI has sparked debate among Ghanaian lawmakers, with concerns about transparency and the allocation of special privileges to MPs and Ministers.
