Appiah-Kubi: Siren use amendment aimed at boosting productivity of MPs

Member
of
Parliament
for
Asante
Akim
North,
Andy
Appiah-Kubi,
has
defended
a
proposed
amendment
to
the
Road
Traffic
Regulations
that
would
allow
MPs
to
use
sirens
and
exempt
them
from
speed
limits
while
carrying
out
official
duties.

Appiah-Kubi
described
the
public
backlash
against
the
move
as
unfair
and
explained
the
rationale
behind
the
amendment
in
an
interview
with
journalists.

He
argued
that
the
amendment
aims
to
enhance
productivity
and
ensure
timely
arrival
at
Parliament,
considering
the
heavy
traffic
conditions
in
Accra.

He
cited
examples
of
MPs,
state
ministers,
and
judges
being
arrested
for
trying
to
meet
their
schedules,
emphasising
the
need
for
a
legal
solution.

The
MP
stressed
that
the
exemption
would
only
be
necessary
during
congested
periods
and
clarified
that
it
is
not
about
privilege,
but
about
efficiently
executing
their
constitutional
duties.

Appiah-Kubi
expressed
disappointment
at
the
public
backlash,
calling
it
unfair
and
motivated
by
hatred,
jealousy,
and
mistrust.

“We
have
witnessed
situations
where
some
members
of
parliament
and
even
state
ministers
and
even
some
judges
have
been
arrested
on
the
road
because
they
are
trying
to
meet
their
work
schedule.
And
you
go
to
the
police,
you
go
to
the
Attorney
General,
you
go
to
the
IGP,
he
says,
I
implement
the
law
as
given
and
that
I
cannot
help
the
situation
because
the
law
says
that.

“So
the
remedy
is
to
amend
the
law
to
make
it
lawful
for
people
like
that,
to
be
able
to
have
special
access
where
necessary.”

“And
indeed,
when
you
are
driving
on
the
road
in
the
early
hours
of
the
day
or
late
hours
of
the
day,
you
don’t
need
any
siren
or
you
don’t
need
any
special
access.
It
is
when
there
is
congestion
on
the
road
and
there
is
also
the
need
for
you
to
meet
deadlines
by
way
of
time,
that
need
will
arise.

“And
when
it
does
arise,
it
is
to
do
your
assigned
duty
for
Mother
Ghana.
So
I
don’t
see
why
we
have
to
impugn
hatred,
impugn
jealousy,
impugn
mistrust
into
the
provision.
It
is
omnibus
and
it
covers
a
lot
of
institutions,
so
attempts
to
single
out
one
particular
institution
for
rebuke
is
not
fair.”




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