You Want To Feel Like Arabian Kings In Town Atik Mohammed Blasts MPs Over Their Siren Demand

Atik Mohammed has slammed the Members of Parliament (MPs) for their proposed use of sirens.

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

The new changes, if passed, will grant MPs, Ministers and Supreme Court Justices privileges for emergency and specialized vehicles which is to grant them the right of way.

The amendment of Regulation 74 of LI 2180 will permit the installation of sirens as warning appliances on their vehicles.

Addressing the issue on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Atik Mohammed questioned the logic in this proposal and wondered what has occasioned their request for such preferential treatment.

"You now want to live like you are in different class than us...Elsewhere, Ministers and MPs strictly follow traffic regulations. If you want to go somewhere early, wake up early...Everybody is silent because they all want to feel like Arabian Kings in town," he blasted them.

To Atik, the MPs want to use sirens just so to be allowed to drive recklessly and avoid Police arrest for violating traffic regulations.

"They want us to legalize their carelessness. If you have a parliamentary meeting that you are required to be there at some point in time, what stops you from waking up early? You see, the fact that MPs and Ministers were arrested means nobody is above the law...This is what we call constitutional chaos. You want to legalize this chaos."

"What kind of chaotic country are we trying to build?", he questioned.

LI granting siren use rights to MPs, Ministers withdrawn

The controversial Legislative Instrument (LI) seeking to amend portions of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012 has been withdrawn in Parliament.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 essential based on extensive engagement with leadership."

He further announced, "Mr. Speaker, I would like to move that the Road Traffic Amended 2024, which was laid on Friday, June 14, be withdrawn... it is so withdrawn."

The Ministry of Transport had previously laid the LI before Parliament to amend portions of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012. If passed, it would grant Members of Parliament (MPs) and Ministers of State privileges typically reserved for emergency and specialized vehicles.

Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/