Minority Withdraws Support for Road Traffic Regulation Amendment

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has jumped ship after the public registered their displeasure and dissatisfaction with the proposed Road Traffic Regulation Amendment by the Minister for Transport, Hon Kwaku Ofori Asiamah.

The amendment among other things privileges lawmakers and Ministers to fit a siren or a bell as a warning appliance in their vehicles and insulates them from the speed limit.

It has since been opposed by the Bureau of Public Safety as well as other individuals who have called for its withdrawal.

In a statement, the Minority who according to reports egged the Minister on to include the sirens and no speed limit for MPs, announced their support for the stance of the public and called for its immediate withdrawal.

A part of a statement released by the Minority on July 16 read, “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.

“However, the Legislative Instrument also 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. This aspect of the regulations has drawn huge public condemnation.”

With the public dissatisfaction, they said they would oppose it at the committee level and proceed to resist it at the plenary.

“Therefore, 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.”

According to them, the government must redirect its attention to addressing the germane issues facing the people of Ghana at the moment such as the 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.