On behalf of the Minister of Transport, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has formally withdrawn the controversial Legislative Instrument (L.I.).
This L.I. aimed to give judges, ministers, and members of parliament (MPs) the right to use sirens and be exempt from speed limits when carrying out their official responsibilities.
Significant the public’s anger and opposition to the proposed modification to the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180) came from a number of sources, including the Minority Caucus in Parliament.
Given the urgent problems the country is facing, critics claimed that the change was unneeded and improper.
Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah announced the withdrawal formally on the floor of Parliament, addressing the concerns expressed by stakeholders and members of the public.
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to propose the withdrawal of the Road Traffic Regulation Amendment 2024, which was submitted on Friday, June 14, 2024. Mr. Speaker, a great deal of leadership engagement has made this necessary. It is hence so withdrawn,” he said.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the leader of the Minority Caucus, has been outspoken in his criticism of the L.I., urging its members to vote against it and demanding that it be withdrawn right away.
They underlined that the government should concentrate on more urgent domestic problems, like the high cost of living, food inflation, joblessness, rising fuel prices, and the cedi’s depreciation.
In his response, Speaker of the House Alban Bagbin expressed his lack of awareness of any such Legislative Instrument that was being considered by the House. He explained that Parliament lacks the constitutional authority to change legislation, which added a layer of complexity to the already controversial plan.
“There is nothing like that before Parliament,” Bagbin asserted during a public lecture on private member bills at the University of Ghana.
“I thought something was being done behind my back, but all my directors confirmed they had not seen any such L.I.”