U-Turn On Siren For MPs: Beware of NDC; they're liars - Kwamena Duncan cautions Ghanaians

Kwamena Duncan has cautioned Ghanaians against believing the words of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) members, particularly when informing their decision on December 7.

The former Central Regional Minister advised the electorate to be extremely cautious of the NDC, referencing their act regarding the proposed amendment to the Road Traffic Regulations that would allow MPs to use sirens and exempt them from speed limits.

Following public agitations against the proposal, the Minority issued a statement calling for the revocation of the bill which was laid before Parliament.

Minority's statement

The Minority argued: “The report of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee is yet to be brought to the floor for debate and discussion. However, given the sentiments expressed so far, Members of the NDC Minority Caucus wish to make it abundantly clear that we stand with the Ghanaian public on this issue and wish to signal our opposition to the amendment without any reservations.

Therefore, 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 Legislative Instrument when it is brought to the floor.

The government must redirect its attention to addressing the germane issues facing the people of Ghana at the moment, such as the high cost of living, food inflation, unemployment, high cost of fuel, the depreciation of the Cedi, and the high tax regime which is forcing businesses to relocate to neighbouring countries in West Africa.”

But according to Majority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh Dompreh, it was the same Minority that suggested the use of sirens for the MPs, hence expressed utter shock that they would turn around to absolve themselves and lay the blame on the Majority in Parliament.

Annoh Dompreh replies Minority

“I was rudely shocked when I saw that statement. Even though from my sources, it appears to be a personal statement he had issued. Members of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee were engaged extensively by the Minister of Transport because he wanted to pick their views on the Amended Legislative Instrument.

In the 2012 L.I., the Vice-President doesn’t have a provision, the Chief Justice and the Speaker of Parliament were all not included in those privileges. And for that matter, the Transport Minister intended to include the Vice-President, Speaker of Parliament, and the Chief Justice. Then there was a strong suggestion led by the Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, Hon. Dominic Ayine, who insisted that the Members of Parliament be captured in the L.I. But the Transport Minister resisted it. But the Minority NDC MPs made it a condition; else they wouldn’t participate.”

Liars

Kwamena Duncan, tackling the matter on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, called the Minority and NDC members "liars," asserting that what the Minority has done to the Majority is a clear reflection of their hypocrisy, which shows their true colors.

"Beware of the NDC when dealing with them...They don’t have the courage of conviction that this is what we said; this is what we proposed. You don’t like it, fine, we agree; we withdraw. But you turn around to make it seem someone else made the proposal, it means you are a liar. You don’t tell the truth and don’t deserve to be given the power to rule this nation," he blasted the Minority.