Road Traffic Regulation Amendment Needless- Ablakwa
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has characterized the proposal for the amendment of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012, LI 2180 as needless.
According to him, pressing issues such as the looming Boakra judgment debt should occupy the focus of the Transport Minister, Hon Kwaku Ofori Asiamah and not the sirens and speed limit of lawmakers and Ministers.
In a post on Facebook, he said, “The Transport Ministry should be responding to the Boankra Scandal and how the Minister’s illegal conduct has left Ghana with a potential US$ 3.6 billion judgment debt not proposing such needless LIs.”
He also stated that the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has disacknowledged the proposal.
The proposed 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.
This has since generated public sentiments with the Bureau of Public Safety included.
However, the Member of Parliament of Asante Akim North, Hon Andy Appiah Kubi, has defended the move saying will enable Members of Parliament and Ministers to effectively execute their mandate in a timely manner without road traffic hindrances.
According to him, they will be able to meet deadlines and avoid repercussions.
He also noted that this privilege as enjoyed by some Article 71 Office holders ought to be extended to all members.
“Let us not forget {that} if deadlines are not met, it goes to undermine the performance of such public officers or Ministries or institutions to the detriment of the expectations of the general public. If there is any justification in giving special access to any of the Article 71 office holders, then it is presumed that all the Members of the Article 71 Office holders ought to be given the same access in the discharge of their duties then we can expect that productivity will improve because they are not impeded on the road.”
He further made reference to instances where some Ministers and legislators were arrested for violating the road traffic regulations while trying to meet the deadline and make it to the Parliament.
“We have witnessed cases where some MPs, State Ministers and even some judges have been arrested on the road because they are trying to meet their work schedule and when you go to the police, the Attorney General and the IGP, they say they implemented the law as given and so can’t help the situation. The remedy is to amend the law to make it lawful for people like that to have special access when necessary.”
