Government has withdrawn the controversial Legislative Instrument (LI) on Road Traffic Amendments to Regulation 74.

Minister of Local Government, Martin Kwaku Adjei-Mensah Korsah, announced the withdrawal on behalf of the Transport Minister during a parliamentary session on Tuesday, 16 July 16.

The proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, would have allowed Members of Parliament, ministers of state, and other officials to use sirens and exempt them from prescribed speed limits.

The proposed law faced severe criticism from the public, who argued it would compromise road safety and create a privileged class of road users.

Addressing Parliament, Adjei-Mensah Korsah stated: “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 Speaker, I rise to move that the Road Traffic Amendment Regulation 2024, which was laid on Friday, 14th June 2024, be withdrawn.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 It is so withdrawn.”

The Minority in Parliament had been vocal in their opposition to the proposed amendments and had demanded their withdrawal. They had also instructed their members to oppose the LI at every stage.

“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 Minority stated in a statement on Tuesday, 16 July 2024.