Some Members of Parliament have beat a retreat on the controversial road traffic amendment regulation which sought to allow MPs, Ministers, and a host of other public officers to use sirens and drive without speed limit.

Following widespread public backlash, the Legislative Instrument (LI) was withdrawn and subsequently reintroduced, this time excluding provisions that would have allowed MPs, the Speaker of Parliament, and the Chief Justice to utilise sirens and bypass speed limits.

Related: Ministers, MPs to use sirens in cars, drive without speed limit in new L.I

Despite the revisions, Tamale South MP and former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, voiced his concerns during the 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, 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 further argued that the regulation should account for extraordinary circumstances, emphasising 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 stated.