The Ministry of Finance (MoF), on behalf of the government has revised and amended the proposed road and bridge Fees and Charges as per Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 2022 (Act 1080).
The amendment is in line with the government’s intention to restart the collection of tolls on some roads pending the completion of the steps to identify the roads and highways to be affected by the reintroduction of the tolls.
For that purpose, the Ministry of Finance has commenced the procedures, necessary to determine the toll foundation rates, while the Ministry of Roads and Highways considers them.
The Finance Minister, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori Atta, as a result, in a letter to the Ministry of Roads and Highways, confirmed the approved fees and charges as tolls on roads and bridges to be introduced this year, 2023.
“We are by this letter sending the recommended rates for input by the Ministry of Roads and Highways to enable this Ministry to finalize the schedule of fees under the upcoming Legislative Instrument”.
MoF
This year, 2023, the government intends resuming the collection of road tolls on selected roads in the country – one of its revenue-generating plans in the 2023 budget, which the Finance Minister submitted to Parliament in November, 2022.
Payment of tolls on public roads ceased in November 2021 as part of policy measures announced by the government in its 2022 Budget, a move that displaced several road toll collectors.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, admitted that the suspension of road toll collection had hampered the government’s revenue generation.
Ofori-Atta made a claim that the hasty decision made in anticipation of the passage of the E-levy has now become a major issue, with the government struggling to deal with it.
Meanwhile, the Minority in parliament advocated for the reintroduction of road tolls arguing that the cessation was not financially sustainable, especially, since the government is struggling to raise revenue.
Not only has the cessation affected government’s revenue stream but has also affected the jobs of individuals who worked there as toll collectors.
Meanwhile, recent concerns from commuters and drivers reveal that the cessation of toll collection has also resulted in some negative conducts on the roads by truck drivers, who park in the toll areas to rest. This, the complainants said causes traffic and even worse, accidents on the road, posing a threat to their lives.
Due to the vacation of toll collectors from the site, some individuals have also made the place a home where they wash, bath and ease themselves, leaving the toll areas in deplorable states, thus, led to the complainants making an immediate call to the government to bring back toll collection. The complainants believe bringing the toll back will address all these issues as it will drive away the truck drivers as well as individuals, who have made the area their abode.
While some, including the minority in Ghana’s Parliament are advocating for the toll to be brought back, with others saying it is a better means to easing the tax burden of increased taxes on individuals, businesses and households, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah strongly opposed the idea of reintroducing the tolls.
Tolls should be collected electronically to ease traffic and congestion
Hon. Osei-Mensah, in explaining his reasons for opposing the idea of re-introducing tolls collection said he once had to personally get involved in distributing tickets in order to ease the traffic congestion on a certain road in the Ashanti Region.
He added that the tolls will only bring back unnecessary traffic thus suggested an electronic means of tolls collection.
“We should consider maybe electronic but if we are to go back to the previous form, I won’t support it because it gives headache.”
Hon. Simon Osei-Mensah
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