Member of Parliament for Adaklu, Kwame Governs Abodza, has called on government to ensure that it pays the toll workers all salary arrears it owes them.
Speaking about concerns raised over the hardships they are facing, Kwame Abodza indicated that government must continue paying till they make a complete declaration of what they want to do with the toll booths.
“Government must take immediate steps to start paying them the arrears. Left to me alone, the toll collection must resume.”
Kwame Governs Abodza
The Adaklu MP disclosed that the Minority group was even ready to support government so they can increase the road tolls to enable it yield more to attend to certain road projects. “We are a fair and reasonable opposition.”
“I don’t think Ghanaians will complain if we say anybody using a land cruiser should pay toll between GHS2 to GHS4 or a bit more so that we can raise more money to give to the Ministry of Roads to be able to do these things.”
Kwame Governs Abodza
The law maker indicated that there are laws governing tolls in this country and the country also has a toll act. He averred that in every advanced country, the payment for the usage of bridges and roads is a standard practice for government to generate revenue to maintain roads and also to expand road infrastructure.
“Ghana started this in the late 90’s and then we have been consistently accruing about GHS78 million. I have a list of small contractors who come to me every day as a minority spokesperson, demanding that they have just weeded the roadside for a road agency for GHS1,500 and for the past two years they have not been paid.”
Kwame Governs Abodza
Workers haven’t been reassigned
According to Mr. Abodza, after the Finance Minister approved that the collection of road tolls be seized, he assured that all the employees will not lose their jobs but unfortunately, they haven’t been assigned to any other work.
“Some of us, we know that our compatriots who do not have legs, all their two eyes and hands and we cannot explain why some people are unfortunate to have that. So, if there is a way that we can give them an opportunity so that they don’t sit at home and become a burden to their families to earn a living, that is a good thing.”
Kwame Governs Abodza
The Adaklu MP lamented that it has become a pathetic situation for the disabled persons who used to man these booths as they are still unemployed. He further questioned why they have not been attended to.
“The Finance Minister was clear that they will not lose their jobs. So, what is happening currently that they can’t reengage them? Where are they reengaging them? Because nobody knows.”
Kwame Governs Abodza
Mr. Abodza pointed out that government had borrowed money to do an upgrade of these toll booths few months before the cessation of the tolls. He asserted that it is a deliberate decision made by government to waste the nation’s money.
“You will be surprised if I tell you that even this year, we have borrowed money to build new toll booths on a road being constructed. We are borrowing 3 million Euros to build new toll booths after the cessation of the tolls in this country. So, when you listen to all these things and you don’t get angry that your money is being wasted, then I don’t know.”
Kwame Governs Abodza
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