The Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, is calling for a critical review of the process by which Legislative Instruments (LIs) are presented in Parliament.
This call for review stems from a recent incident where a Legislative Instrument proposed in June aimed to amend parts of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012, allowing MPs, Ministers, and judges to use sirens and drive without speed limits. Following public outcry, the LI was subsequently withdrawn.
Ablakwa expressed concern about the lack of transparency in the current process, highlighting that many MPs, including himself, were unaware of the document when it was laid in Parliament. He mentioned discovering the LI on social media rather than through official parliamentary channels.
He emphasized the need for all MPs to have access to LIs before they are laid, instead of restricting information to only the Subsidiary Legislation Committee. Ablakwa stressed the importance of reviewing the existing system to ensure transparency and accountability.
His remarks on the matter were made during a discussion on Joy FM’s Newsfile, where he called for a comprehensive investigation into the process and laid out the flaws in the current system.
In conclusion, Ablakwa criticized the current practice as “wrong” and urged urgent reform to uphold parliamentary transparency and proper governance. The issue highlights the importance of revisiting the procedures for presenting Legislative Instruments in Parliament to better serve the interests of the public.
