Include Chief Justice and Speaker in Motorcade and Siren Privileges-Haruna Iddrisu

Some Members of Parliament have backtracked on a controversial road traffic amendment regulation that initially sought to allow MPs, Ministers, and other public officers to use sirens and drive without speed limits.

Following widespread public backlash, the Legislative Instrument (LI) was withdrawn and later reintroduced without provisions for MPs, the Speaker of Parliament, and the Chief Justice to utilize sirens or bypass speed limits.

However, Tamale South MP and former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, voiced his concerns during a parliamentary session, advocating for the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice to retain the privilege of using a motorcade and sirens.

“If the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament is not entitled to a motorcade or police accompaniment, it is wrong. The Chief Justice of Ghana has also been excluded from the regulation. We can remove ministers and MPs from this provision, but the republic has four key personalities: the President, Vice President, Speaker, and Chief Justice.

“If I had my way, this LI would be reconsidered because leaving the Speaker and Chief Justice out of this privilege is inappropriate,” Iddrisu stated.

He further argued that the regulation should account for extraordinary circumstances, emphasizing the need for seamless leadership during crises.

“Colleagues, when you consider an ordinary day, also think about an extraordinary day. In the event of a crisis in Ghana, we cannot afford a vacuum in our leadership.

“Therefore, laying an instrument before the House that denies the Speaker and Chief Justice the right to a motorcade and siren is untenable and wrong,” he concluded.