A Plus, whose original name is Kwame Asare Obeng, as has provided new insights into the controversial topic of MPs using sirens, based on his experience as the newly elected Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central.
Speaking during an interview on Joy FM’s DriveOnJoy, he acknowledged how his responsibilities have changed his perspective on the issue.
Before assuming office, A Plus had criticized MPs for advocating the use of sirens to navigate traffic.
However, his brief stint in Parliament, combined with the demands of serving his constituency, has altered his stance.
He shared an example of urgently needing a dispatch rider to help him maneuver through traffic to attend to both parliamentary and constituency duties, particularly during a recent event where he had to accompany the President to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Convention in Gomoa Pomadze while also being present in Parliament.
A Plus highlighted the logistical difficulties faced by MPs, especially those from constituencies located far from Accra, such as Paga, emphasizing the nearly impossible task of meeting obligations in both places on the same day.
His remarks revisit a longstanding debate on the use of sirens by MPs. In July 2024, the Ministry of Transport proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Regulations 2012 (LI 2180), seeking to grant
MPs, Ministers of State, and Supreme Court justices the right to fit sirens and be exempt from speed limits.
However, the proposal faced widespread criticism from the public and was ultimately rejected, largely due to opposition from the then-minority caucus in Parliament.
I now understand why MPs need sirens – Kwame Asare Obeng#UTVNews pic.twitter.com/B7qMcvT1pr
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) January 10, 2025
