The Minority Chief Whip and Ranking Member of the Roads and Highways Committee, Honorable Governs Kwame Agbodza has chastised the Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo and the ruling New Patriotic Party for the reckless closure of the tollbooth.
According to the Member of Parliament for Adaklu Constituency, the decision is costing the Ghanaian taxpayer GHS 80 million annually and risking many lives as well.
Mr. Agbodza also indicated that the decision by the Akuffo Addo administration to close down the tollbooth and now use millions to remove them is very incentive and unconscionable
“This government created this problem against all rational reasoning, ignoring caution and advice. As a result, we lose about ghs80m a year, many lives lost. They are now spending GHS1 million of OUR TAXES TO REMOVE THE TOLL BOOTHES…extremely reckless.
Kwame Agbodza
The legislator also calls on the government to rehabilitate the broken part of the Accra-Tema motorway to enhance the safety of motorists and travellers who use it.
Public Bemoans the state of the Accra-Tema Motorway
The Accra-Tema Motorway’s worsening condition has recently been the subject of various public outcries. Because there are no lights at the sites or the reflectors are broken, drivers have complained that the tollbooths are difficult to see, especially at night. With the most recent accident occurring on Sunday, September 3, 2023, the location has recently become a hotspot for accidents.
Additionally, there are sections of the Accra-Tema Motorway that have developed potholes, putting drivers and travellers there in danger and producing heavy traffic.
According to the Ghana Highways Authority, the Accra-Tema Motorway’s tollbooth structures are being decommissioned. The Ghana Highways Authority estimates that the exercise will cost GHS 1 million.
The Ghana Highways Authority’s Director of Road Safety and Environment, Mr Joseph Atsu Amedzake, has disclosed that plans have been finalized for the tollbooth’s partial removal, which will make commuter travel simpler.
“We are presently mobilizing resources, equipment and personnel to start work as soon as possible”
Joseph Atsu Amedzake
Mr. Amedzake also indicated that the Ghana Highways Authority will soon begin work to patch the part of the motorway that has developed potholes. He therefore cautioned motorists and commuters to take precautions when using the affected parts of the motorway as well as reducing the speed limit to avoid accidents.
In 2021, the Ministry of Roads and Highways ordered an immediate end to toll collection on all national public highways and bridges.
According to a statement made by the sector’s Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, this directive came after the Finance Ministry announced that tolls on all public highways has been removed.
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