The Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, is discontent over some amendments made to the Roads Regulations Act LI 2180 sidelining parliamentarians from the list of Ghanaians permitted to use sirens and motorcade.
The Roads Regulations Act LI 2180 from the Ministry of Transport seeking to exclude the Speaker and MPs is before Parliament for approval.
Speaking at an emergency sitting of Parliament on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, Ken Agyapong argued that providing police escorts for MPs is a rightful measure, not a privilege.
He noted that legislators have been belittled by society but they have retreated into their shells due to fear of public criticism.
Kennedy Agyapong further called on his colleagues to stand up against intimidation and advocate for laws that benefit both the interests of the house and their personal lives, emphasizing the need for enhanced security.
“I want to caution my colleagues to be bold for once because we’ve been cowards to the public. When it comes to anything concerning Parliament, we are afraid of the reaction of the public, but anything that the government needs, they will first come to Parliament. For a whole Speaker, you say that he cannot even enjoy a motorcade. Who is Kennedy Agyapong? Who went to the Senate and enjoyed a motorcade under President Kufuor’s administration? We must be bold and speak the truth,” he said.
“Every money this country needs, it has to go through Parliament, but society belittles us as if we are servants to them. Although we are servants to them, we also have to enjoy rights. I want you guys to be bold. Members have to be bold.
“In case there is an emergency and you need Members of Parliament from, say, Adenta to come here. If he enjoys a motorcade, is it a sin? Mr. Speaker, I am speaking for Parliament, that it is a very important institution and therefore we should not be afraid to demand opportunities for ourselves.
“If they are doing this to the Speaker, then who are you? A member of Parliament sitting here, and we are the same people who are going to approve this (the amended act). Are you saying that ministers are also not important?” he quizzed.
In a similar vein, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has expressed alignment with Kennedy Agyapong’s concerns, emphasizing the need for better security measures and privileges for legislators.
Expressing his dissatisfaction, Mr Iddrisu underscored the importance of the Speaker’s role within Ghana’s governance framework.
He argued that it is inappropriate for the Speaker, who holds the third-highest position in the country, to be excluded from the use of a motorcade or police siren.
“Without personalizing it, it is not Alban Sumana Bagbin. It is the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, and he is not entitled to a motorcade or a police siren? In my view, Mr. Speaker, it is wrong for the number three to be out of this privilege,” Iddrisu stated.
Mr Iddrisu further highlighted that the Chief Justice, another key figure in the Republic, is also excluded from the Motor Traffic Regulation.
He emphasized that the governance of Ghana relies on the leadership of four principal personalities: the President, the Vice President, the Speaker, and the Chief Justice. Excluding any of these figures from such privileges undermines their role and significance.
The Legislative Instrument had been previously withdrawn following public backlash over a proposal to grant Members of Parliament (MPs) similar privileges.