Blame me for L.I. granting siren use rights to MPs, ministers – Dominic Ayine

On July 17, 2024, 9:49 PM

Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee of Parliament, Dominic Ayine, has taken responsibility for the proposed Legislative Instrument (L.I.) seeking to amend portions of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012.

The L.I. sought to grant legislators, Supreme Court justices and ministers the privilege to use sirens and exempt them from speed limits while performing their official duties.

However, the L.I. faced a backlash from the public and the Minority in Parliament, who issued a press statement urging the Transport Minister to withdraw the L.I. before it matured in 21 days.

In an interview, Mr Ayine clarified that the amendment was merely a proposal and not a compulsory directive to the transport minister as has been speculated in the public domain.

He acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the proposal and accepted responsibility on behalf of his committee, stating that he held no position on the matter when it was submitted.

“I didn’t say that personally, my position is that MPs must be given sirens and be exempted from the speed limit. I never held any position.

“The point is that it came before my committee and I’m the chairman of the committee so I will take responsibility on behalf of my members. As chairman of the committee, I take responsibility for everything that the committee has done,” he said on Citi FM.

Meanwhile, the controversial L.I. seeking to amend portions of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012 has been withdrawn from Parliament.

The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, withdrew the L.I. on behalf of the transport minister, acknowledging the concerns raised by the public and stakeholders.

Speaking on the floor of parliament on Tuesday, July 16, Adjei-Mensah Korsah said “Mr Speaker, I rise to move that the Road Traffic Amendment Regulation 2024 which was laid on Friday, 14th June 2024 be withdrawn.

“This has become necessary based on the extensive engagement with leadership. It is so withdrawn.”