Hon. Dominic Ayine, Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East, clarified that the recent amendment to road traffic regulations permitting parliamentarians and ministers to use sirens and alarms on their vehicles is restricted to emergencies only.
Hon. Ayine stressed that while the exemption from speed limits is in effect, parliamentarians and ministers of state are not exempt from the law, and they remain accountable for any accidents they may be involved in.
The proposed amendment introduced by Minister of Transport, Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, is still pending approval in Parliament.
Its objective, he stated, is to encourage the use of seatbelts and adherence to road signs.
“There is a misconception that the amendment was effected by Parliament however it is not an act of parliament but rather a legislative instrument which can only be passed when two-thirds majority vote in Parliament to be passed into law.”
Hon. Ayine pointed out that the public’s criticism of the amendment appears hypocritical, especially considering that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is also exempt from speed limits in the course of official duties, without eliciting a comparable outcry.
“There is a misconception that the amendment was effected by Parliament however it is not an act of parliament but rather a legislative instrument which can only be passed when two-thirds majority vote in Parliament to be passed into law.”
