The Legislative Instrument (LI) seeking to amend portions of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012 has been withdrawn from Parliament.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, who withdrew the LI on behalf of the Transport Minister. This decision comes after considerable public and stakeholder backlash.
“The withdrawal became necessary based on extensive engagement with leadership,” Mr. Korsah stated. He further elaborated, “Mr. Speaker, I would like to move that the Road Traffic Amendment 2024, which was laid on Friday, June 14, be withdrawn… it is so withdrawn.”
Initially, the Ministry of Transport had proposed the LI to amend portions of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012.
The amendment sought to grant Members of Parliament (MPs) and Ministers of State privileges typically reserved for emergency and specialized vehicles.
Specifically, the amendment to Regulation 74 of LI 2180 would allow sirens or bells to be fitted as warning appliances on vehicles owned by Supreme Court justices, MPs, and Ministers of State.
The proposal faced strong opposition from both the public and the Minority in Parliament. The Minority issued a press statement urging the Transport Minister to withdraw the LI before it matured in 21 days.
They also pledged to vote against the LI if it reached the chamber, stating, “We have instructed all our Members on the Committee to strongly oppose it at the committee level. We have also directed all 137 NDC Members of Parliament to vote en bloc against the LI when it is brought to the floor.”
The opposition argued that the LI represented an abuse of privileges and detracted from the pressing issues facing the nation.
They urged the government to prioritize addressing critical challenges such as the high cost of living, food inflation, unemployment, high fuel costs, the depreciation of the cedi, and a high tax regime that is driving businesses to relocate to neighboring West African countries.