The Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annor Dompreh, has expressed shock that the Minority, through its Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, has failed to own up to its proposal, in the abortive Legislative Instrument, that MPs should be granted siren privileges.
The Minority caucus yesterday released a press statement, signed by Dr Ato Forson, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the privilege.
The Legislative Instrument (LI) had included provision granting certain public officials, including Ministers of State and the 275 MPs, the privilege to use sirens on the road and not be liable for exceeding speed limits.
The intention of the government for introducing that amendment in the LI was to include the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament and the Head of the Judiciary Service who were not originally captured in those privileges as captured in the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180).
However, the NDC MPs on the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, led by Dominic Ayine, insisted that if MPs were not included in those privileges, they would not participate in the consideration and passage of the Amended LI.
Interacting with the media, Mr Annoh-Dompreh said he was surprised at the U-turn made by the Minority, especially when they delayed the laying of the Amended Legislative Instrument for over two months until consensus was made to include their proposal after failed attempts by the Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, to resist their efforts.
“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,” he noted.
He said it was after the proposal to include Members of Parliament were captured in the Amended L.I. that the Minority gave the green light for it to be laid.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport has withdrawn the Amended Legislative Instrument for further consultations.