Speaker and CJ must use motorcades not sirens – Bureau of Public Safety to Parliament

The Bureau of Public Safety has kicked against the inclusion of the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice and ministers in the road traffic amendment regulation which seeks to allow the President, the Vice President as well as the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Ambulance Service to use warning equipment during emergencies.

The bureau was reacting to concerns raised by Members of Parliament about the exclusion of the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice from the new regulation.

It will be recalled that on July 16, 2024, the Transport Ministry was forced to withdraw the initial Legislative Instrument (L.I) following public backlash over the regulation which sought to permit the installation of sirens as warning equipment on specific classes of vehicles of Members of Parliament (MPs), Ministers of State, and justices of the Supreme Court.

However, the L.I was re-laid by the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Andrew Egyapa Mercer during an emergency sitting on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 and excluded the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice, ministers of state and members of Parliament.

This triggered a reaction from the MPs.

“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,” Tamale South MP argued on the floor of parliament during the emergency sitting on Wednesday, September 4th, 2024.

However, speaking on 505 News on Wednesday, the Chief of Party at the Bureau of Public Safety, Dr Nana Yaw Akwadaa objected to the concerns raised by the MPs and expressed disappointment in their arguments. Dr Akwadaa argued that the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice and the ministers should instead use police motorcade for emergencies.

“You go sit in parliament and make laws that make you comfortable and to the discomfort of every other person. We are not denying the chief justice the use of a motorcade. I don't think the law is denying the speaker of parliament the use of a motorcade.”

Dr Akwadaa also cautioned the MP against prioritizing their welfare above the interest of Ghanaians.

“They should not attempt to do a stage of coup on the people of Ghana. We also deserve better. We also deserve to see our country being run with incivility and that you cannot go just because you've been elected as a member of parliament.