The controversial Legislative Instrument (LI) seeking to amend portions of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012 has been withdrawn in Parliament.The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, withdrew the LI on behalf of the Transport Minister, citing public and stakeholder concerns.He added that: “the withdrawal became necessary based on extensive engagement with leadership.”
The Ministry of Transport had previously laid the LI before Parliament to amend portions of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012. If passed by the House, the proposed amendment to Regulation 74 of LI 2180 would have permitted Members of Parliament (MPs) and Ministers of State to equip their vehicles with sirens or bells, privileges traditionally reserved for emergency and specialised vehicles.
However, the LI faced opposition from the public and the Minority in Parliament, who issued a press statement urging the Transport Minister to withdraw it.The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development’s withdrawal of the controversial Legislative Instrument (LI) is a step in the right direction. This reflects the power of collective voice and the importance of maintaining a legal system where laws apply uniformly to all, regardless of status or position.
The underlying implication of this proposal was a disturbing notion that elected officials and certain high-ranking public servants could be afforded privileges on our roads that are denied to the ordinary citizen.
The recently released report by the National Road Safety Authority underscores an alarming trend of road accidents during election year, revealing a disturbing increase in road accidents during election years compared to non-election periods.
The statistics speak volumes. In 2016, 44 lives were lost in road crashes during the December election period, marking a 15.6% increase from the previous year. Similarly, 2020 witnessed 44 fatalities and 169 injuries in 155 recorded crashes, reflecting a 21.9% rise over the preceding year.
One of the primary causes attributed to this spike in accidents is the widespread disregard for road traffic regulations and safety practices during electioneering periods by Politicians. The hectic pace of campaigns increased vehicular movement and often reckless driving behaviors compound the risks on our roads.
The attempt to create a separate class of road users is fundamentally at odds with the principles of justice and equality. It suggests that those in power could be above the law, able to circumvent traffic regulations designed to ensure the safety and orderliness of our roads.
Traffic regulations exist for a reason – to maintain order, protect lives and ensure fair use of public roadways. Allowing a select few to bypass these rules undercuts the very foundation of these regulations and sets a dangerous precedent.
Our roads are shared spaces that require mutual respect and adherence to common rules. The idea that MPs or Ministers should be able to navigate traffic with the same privileges as emergency responders is not only impractical but also ethically questionable. Emergency vehicles are granted these privileges because they operate under circumstances that involve immediate danger to life and property. To extend similar privileges to officials based solely on their status would be to trivialize the grave responsibilities that emergency services bear.
Elected officials are meant to serve the people, not to place themselves above them. The expectation should be that they abide by the same laws and standards as the citizens they represent.
The Chronicle will rather advise that a pool of Dispatch Riders should be created under the care of Ghana Police Service where the MPs and Ministers can access their service as and when they need it.
The withdrawal of the LI should serve as a reminder to our leaders that their actions and privileges will always be weighed against the principles of fairness and the public good. It is a reminder that no one is above the law and that our leaders, like all citizens, must conform to traffic regulations.
