BY: Gregory Pilkington Amoah(4/9/2024)
Member of Parliament for Tamale South Haruna Idrissu has kicked against the omission of key officials of state such as the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice from the class of persons who can use motorcades as stipulated in the Road Traffic Amendment regulations to be layed before the subsidiary legislation committee of Parliament.
Addressing Parliament, the former Minority leader stressed on the importance of these officers having access to motorcades due to the exception al nature of their mandate hence called for the instrument to be amended accordingly.
He raised the concern when the Road Traffic Amendment Regulations 2024 was presented in Parliament to be layed before the Subsidiary legislation committee for the constitutionally required 21-Parliamentary sitting day countdown to elapse. According to him, the Speaker of Parliament,the Chief Justice perform very distinct roles stipulated by the constitution hence in order to avert a constitutional crisis when the need arises for any of these officers to perform a specific task and their proximity makes it difficult to be present, such motorcades will help curb such crisis thus called for the withdrawal of the instrument in order to necessitate the needed amendments.
On the other hand, Assin Central lawmaker Kennedy Ohene Agyapong issued a rallying call to Members of Parliament to be bold in asserting that privileges necessary for the conduct of their constitutional mandate are granted them.
He posited that, the House always cow tows to public pressure when they demand certain privileges in the discharge of their duties m, a situation he believes is inimical to their office as representatives of the people thus called on them to be assertive in their endeavors.