Economist and a Senior Lecturer at Economics Department of the University of Ghana, Dr Adu Owusu Sarkodie, has charged government to re-introduce the road toll system with immediate effect as part of measures to raise revenue.
According to the Lecturer, automating the collection of road tolls across the country is the way to go. He thus, suggested that making it more efficient will help generate more revenue.
“Bring the road tolls back in a more efficient way to raise the revenue. We cannot be driving free on the roads like that. It must be paid for. So get the road tolls back, mechanize and automate it. Reduce the interpersonal collection of coins and all that. Make people buy the electronic card, government has ready cash at the beginning of the year and they can use it to construct the number of roads you want.”
Dr Adu Owusu Sarkodie
That notwithstanding, Dr Owusu Sarkodie indicated that even though, he did agree with the cancelation of the road tolls in the form in which it was, he wants it back in a modernized form.
“Reverse the removal of road tolls, get the road tolls back on the roads. I agree to the removal of the road tolls in the state in which they were. I have never subscribed to the collection of coins on the roads.”
Dr Adu Owusu Sarkodie
Government Must Learn From University of Ghana
Dr. Adu Sarkodie further urged the Government of Ghana to emulate the University of Ghana because the University has automated all its tolls.
“I have always proposed that we should mechanize, automate the road tolls, and the University of Ghana has given us a clear example of that. If it can be done at Legon, it can be done in every part of the country.”
Dr Adu Owusu Sarkodie
The Lecturer noted that with an efficient toll system put in place, the government will not struggle for revenue to meet her infrastructure needs.
Government Justifies essence of Toll Abolishment
The government of Ghana abolished all tolls on public roads and bridges in the 2022 Budget Statement.
Explaining the rationale behind the scrapping of the road tolls, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, noted that the revenue that accrues to the state for the construction and maintenance of roads is inadequate and hence, government has to look elsewhere to equitably generate revenues for the construction and maintenance of our roads.
“Over the years, the tolling points have led to heavy traffic on our roads and lengthened travel time from one place to another, impacting negatively on time and productivity. The congestion generated at the tolling points, besides creating these inconveniences, also leads to pollution in and around those vicinities.
“To address these challenges, Government has abolished all tolls on public roads and bridges. This takes effect immediately the Budget is approved. The toll collection personnel will be reassigned. The expected impact on productivity and reduced environmental pollution will more than off-set the revenue forgone by removing the tolls.”
Ken Ofori-Atta
The minister averred that to compensate for the road tolls, government was looking to introduce innovative ways of raising revenue such as the proposed 1.75% MoMo transactions levy payable by mobile money users per transaction above GHS 100. He stated that it will help government to shore up revenue inflows to fund road projects in the country.
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