Exempting Speaker, CJ from motorcade privileges inappropriate – Haruna Iddrisu

Tamale South MP and former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has criticised the exclusion of the Speaker of Parliament and Chief Justice from the use of motorcades and sirens.

Parliament has revised a controversial road traffic amendment regulation, removing provisions that would have allowed MPs, Ministers, and other public officers to use sirens and drive without speed limits.

The initial Legislative Instrument (LI) faced widespread public backlash and was subsequently withdrawn before being reintroduced with significant changes.

Notably, the revised regulation now excludes the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice from having the right to use motorcades and sirens, a decision that has ignited fresh debate among lawmakers.

During a parliamentary session, advocating for the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice to retain these privileges, Mr. Iddrisu said: “If the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament is not entitled to a motorcade or police accompaniment, in my view, 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,” Mr. Iddrisu argued.

He further stressed that the regulation should account for exceptional situations, underscoring the need for effective leadership during emergencies.

“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 stated.