The Ghanaian government has withdrawn a controversial Legal Instrument (L.I.) that would have permitted Members of Parliament to use sirens and disregard speed limits. This decision follows a significant public outcry against the proposed measure.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, initially stated at a forum at the University of Ghana that he was unaware of the L.I. However, it later emerged that he might have been referring to a different piece of legislation. Records indicate that Speaker Bagbin presided over the parliamentary session on June 14 when the L.I. was introduced by the Transport Minister.
The public backlash centered on concerns about road safety and the perception that the measure would grant undue privileges to lawmakers, potentially leading to misuse and endangering lives. The withdrawal of the L.I. highlights the power of public opinion in influencing legislative decisions and underscores the government’s responsiveness to citizen concerns.
The Transport Ministry has yet to comment on the future of similar legislative proposals, but the incident has sparked a debate on the balance between facilitating the duties of public officials and ensuring public safety and equity.
Report by Dede Davies