The new road traffic Legislative Instrument (L.I.) presented to Parliament has revealed a notable exclusion. Unlike previous regulations, the Office of the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice are no longer entitled to fit their official vehicles with sirens and enjoy motorcade privileges. This omission was pointed out by former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu on Wednesday, September 4, highlighting a change in the list of high-ranking public officials granted these privileges.
The Legislative Instrument (L.I.) had been previously withdrawn from consideration due to widespread public criticism, particularly over the controversial proposal to extend siren and motorcade privileges to Members of Parliament (MPs). Now, with the revised L.I. reintroduced, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has voiced concern over the exclusion of the Speaker and Chief Justice from these privileges, warning that it may set a problematic precedent. Afenyo-Markin argued that this exclusion could potentially encumber MPs in their ability to effectively serve the people of Ghana, implying that MPs should also be reconsidered for similar privileges to facilitate their movements.
In a timely admonition, Speaker Alban Bagbin exhorted members of Parliament to stand firm and unwavering in their convictions, urging them to unapologetically assert themselves and defend their positions with confidence whenever circumstances demand it. His words of encouragement come at a time when MPs are navigating complex debates and potentially contentious decisions, empowering them to remain resolute and vocal in their representations.