The government has withdrawn the controversial Legislative Instrument (L.I.) seeking to amend portions of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012.
The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, withdrew the L.I. on behalf of the Transport Minister, acknowledging the concerns raised by the public and stakeholders.
Speaking on the floor of parliament on Tuesday, July 16, Adjei-Mensah Korsah said “Mr Speaker, I rise to move that the Road Traffic Amendment Regulation 2024 which was laid on Friday, 14th June 2024 be withdrawn.
“This has become necessary based on the extensive engagement with leadership. It is so withdrawn.”
This L.I. sought to grant Members of Parliament (MPs), Supreme Court justices and Ministers of State the privilege to use sirens and exempt them from speed limits while performing their official duties.
However, the L.I. faced a backlash from the public and the Minority in Parliament, who issued a press statement urging the Transport Minister to withdraw the L.I. before it matured in 21 days.
Critics argued that the amendment was unnecessary and inappropriate, given the nation’s pressing issues.
READ ALSO: Suspend Bill On Sirens, Speed Limit Exemptions For Ministers, MPs – BPS
The Minority had earlier demanded the withdrawal of the L.I. instructing all their Members on the Subsidiary Legislation Committee to strongly oppose the amendments at the committee level.
Additionally, all 137 NDC Members of Parliament were directed to vote against the L.I. when it was brought to the floor.
According to them, the government must redirect its attention to addressing the pressing 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.