- The new Traffic Law excludes the Speaker of Parliament and Chief Justice from using sirens and motorcades
- Former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu and Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin have criticized the exclusion
- Alban Bagbin urges MPs to assertively defend their roles and responsibilities
In a recent shake-up, the Office of the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice have been removed from the roster of high-ranking officials eligible to use sirens and motorcades under the new Traffic Law.
This development was brought to light by former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, following the introduction of the revised road traffic Legislative Instrument (L.I.) in Parliament.
Iddrisu remarked, “It’s not about Alban Sumana Bagbin personally; it’s about the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament. Excluding the Speaker from this privilege is a mistake. Similarly, the Chief Justice should also have been included.
Ghana’s top officials are the president, vice president, speaker, and chief justice, and all deserve these privileges.”
Previously, the L.I. faced public criticism when it proposed extending similar benefits to Members of Parliament (MPs), leading to its withdrawal.
Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin voiced concerns that the exclusion could impact MPs’ ability to effectively serve their constituents.
He highlighted the daily challenges MPs face and argued that the provision of sirens is not meant to be a daily luxury but a practical tool for handling urgent matters.
Speaker Alban Bagbin has responded by urging MPs to stand firm and advocate for their roles.
He emphasized that strong leadership is crucial in a democracy and stressed that MPs must defend their positions and responsibilities to meet the expectations of their constituents effectively.
