Misplaced priorities- The unnecessary debate on siren privileges amidst Ghana’s pressing national issues

The revocation of siren privileges for the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice, and other top officials under the new road traffic regulations has ignited significant public debate.

While the law aims to curb traffic abuses and improve road safety by restricting sirens to emergency services like the police, ambulances, and fire departments, it raises questions as to why such a relatively minor issue has captured the focus of Ghanaian lawmakers, especially when the country is grappling with far more urgent and critical challenges.

Across Ghana, people are grappling with severe issues. From the north to the south, east, and west, poverty remains widespread, with many unable to access basic necessities. Inflation is skyrocketing, eroding purchasing power, and making it difficult for the average Ghanaian to afford three meals a day.

The healthcare system is also under immense strain, with hospitals becoming places of fear rather than hope. Inadequate healthcare infrastructure forces many people, particularly those in rural areas, to travel long, expensive distances to access treatment, which many cannot afford.

The quality of care is also a concern, as many fear they may not return home after visiting these facilities. A visit to many hospitals has become a terrifying gamble, with healthcare facilities now perceived not as places of healing but as “slaughterhouses,” leaving patients anxious and uncertain about whether they will return home alive.

This may explain why nearly all of our leaders seek costly medical care abroad. Additionally, illegal mining (galamsey) continues to devastate water bodies, especially in areas heavily affected by these activities.

Access to clean and affordable water is becoming increasingly difficult due to water pollution and rising tariffs. Beyond this, galamsey activities are fragmenting natural habitats, leading to significant biodiversity loss. These complex, intertwined problems are gripping the country, yet much of the lawmakers’ attention has recently been directed towards the issue of siren privileges.

While road safety regulations are important, the time spent debating this law represents a misplaced priority given the multitude of urgent issues facing the nation. More effort should be dedicated to debating policies that will improve the lives of all Ghanaians, rather than focusing on a road traffic regulation that primarily benefits a privileged few.

These state officials (e.g., the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice) have enjoyed siren privileges in the past without any significant negative impact. So, why is such a minor issue causing controversy among lawmakers, who should be focusing on more critical national matters?  Ghana is on the cusp of conducting crucial elections, where electing non-corrupt leaders to steer the country forward is vital.

In this context, wouldn’t it be more prudent for parliamentarians to focus on ensuring peaceful, violence-free elections, protecting the integrity of the process, and addressing issues like economic hardship, inflation, healthcare, and governance? Moreover, other pressing concerns, such as youth unemployment and the ongoing struggle against corruption, deserve more immediate attention. With high unemployment rates, particularly among the youth, and systemic corruption impacting public service delivery, focusing on these issues would have a far more significant and lasting impact on the country’s future.

While siren regulations have their role, their impact is minor compared to the aforementioned challenges the country faces. This debate suggests that Ghanaian lawmakers may be neglecting more urgent issues that require attention and resolution, highlighting our lack of readiness to advance toward development goals.

It also reflects poorly on our lawmakers, raising questions about their priorities. Parliamentarians should prioritize critical issues and channel their efforts into addressing the pressing needs of the nation, including economic inequality, healthcare, corruption, and governance, rather than spending valuable time on what many consider to be a relatively minor concern.

The future of Ghana depends on solving these real, deep-rooted challenges that affect the lives of Ghanaians.

By Gervin A Apatinga

[email protected]

 

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