I criticised but I now understand why MPs need sirens- A Plus

Musician and now Member of Parliament (MP) for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, has had a change of heart regarding MPs using sirens to get through traffic quickly and do their jobs effectively.

Having initially opposed the idea, it appears A Plus’s short time in office has given him a new perspective, and he says he now understands why his fellow legislators feel sirens are necessary.

In an interview on Joy Fm he said, “It is not an easy task at all. Today, for instance, I was with the President in my constituency. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community had their annual convention. You know it’s in my constituency; that’s where they have it-in Gomoa Pomadze. I had to be at the convention and in Parliament at the same time.

“I remember that before I entered Parliament, I was complaining about MPs and why they wanted sirens. I called my friend who is a dispatch rider”.

A Plus mentioned that he’s realised that being an MP comes with unique challenges, like going through heavy traffic to attend official duties, and that sirens could help them overcome those challenges.

“So I came to understand why they were advocating it. You can imagine someone whose constituency is in, say, Paga, and you have to go there with the President and then come back to Parliament? I think I am in a position to explain what happens in Parliament and what parliamentarians go through very well to the public,” he added.

In September 2024, The Road and Traffic (Amendment) Regulations, 2024 legal instrument to grant privileges to certain state officials and institutions to use sirens on their vehicles or motorcades was re-laid in Parliament.

The instrument was to allow the President, the Vice-President as well as the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Ambulance Service to use warning equipment during emergencies.

The amended instrument will, however, not permit the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice, ministers of state and members of Parliament to use motorcades or sirens for official duties.

At the time, Members of Parliament had advocated to be part of the group of people to use sirens, however, their concerns had been met with public backlash with A Plus being very vocal objecting to the request.