Be cautious with minority; they're hypocrites — Kabila to gov't 

Kabila

James Kwabena Bomfeh, known as Kabila, has welcomed the decision to revoke the proposed amendment of the Road Traffic Regulations that would have allowed MPs to use sirens and be exempted from speed limits while on official duties.

The Ministry of Transport had submitted a Legislative Instrument (L.I) to Parliament seeking to amend portions of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012.

If passed, the amendment would have granted MPs, Ministers, and Supreme Court Justices the privilege to use sirens on their vehicles, giving them the right of way in emergencies.

However, the Minority, despite reportedly pushing for that amendment according to Majority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annor Dompreh, later opposed the proposal, leading to its withdrawal.

"The report of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee is yet to be brought to the floor for debate and discussion. However, given the sentiments expressed so far, Members of the NDC Minority Caucus wish to make it abundantly clear that we stand with the Ghanaian public on this issue and wish to signal our opposition to the amendment without any reservations.

“Therefore, we have instructed all our Members on the Committee to strongly oppose it at the committee level. We have also directed all 137 NDC Members of Parliament to vote en bloc against the Legislative Instrument when it is brought to the floor.

“The government must redirect its attention to addressing the germane issues facing the people of Ghana at the moment such as high cost of living, food inflation, unemployment, high cost of fuel, the depreciation of the Cedi and the high tax regime which is forcing businesses to relocate to neighbouring countries in West Africa," a statement from the Minority said.

Hon. Annoh Dompreh expressed his surprise at the Minority's opposition, stating, "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.

"In the 2012 L.I. the Vice-President doesn’t have a provision, the Chief Justice and the Speaker of Parliament were all not included in those privileges. And for that matter, the Transport Minister intended to include the Vice-President, Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice. Then there was a strong suggestion led by the Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, Hon. Dominic Ayine who insisted that the Members of Parliament be captured in the L.I. But the Transport Minister resisted it. But the Minority NDC MPs made it a condition else they won’t participate.”

Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show on the issue, Kabila urges the Majority in Parliament and the government to be cautious in dealing with the Minority.

He labelled the Minority's u-turn as "hypocritical," highlighting Hon. Dompreh's revelation that it was initially the Minority who called for the inclusion of sirens in their vehicles.

Kabila emphasised that the Minority's U-turn after public backlash should serve as a lesson to the government.

Despite the controversy, Kabila expressed relief that the decision to introduce the bill had been revoked, stating, "It was wrongly timed to have introduced that bill."