The Ministry of Roads and Highways has announced the Government’s intention to reintroduce road and bridge tolls to generate revenue for road maintenance and related matters.
To this end, the Ministry is putting together the modalities for a modem, technologically Driven toll collection system.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Head of Public Relations Unit at the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Nasir Ahmad Yartey.
To achieve this objective, the Ministry noted that it will employ an open, transparent, competitive, cost-effective and fair procurement process.
“The Ministry wishes to assure the public of its commitment to introducing 8 modernized systems that address the current tolling and road maintenance funding challenges of the country,” the Ministry stated.
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Road toll Abolishment
The collection of road tolls was abolished in November 2021 after it was announced by the then Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta while Presenting the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government on the floor of Parliament.
The Finance Minister noted that over the years, the tolling points had become unhealthy market centres, leading to heavy traffic on our roads.
He added that the toll booths had also lengthened travel time from one place to another, and impacted negatively on productivity.
In replacement, the Government introduced the E-Levy in order to make the tolling universal.
This did not sound well with the opposition and they always advised that the collection of tolls is continued.
After citing revenue shortfalls from the e-Levy, the Finance Minister reading the 2023 budget mentioned the re-introduction of the road tolls.
From the onset, the NDC Causes have always been for the collection of the road toll.
During the 2024 campaign, the NDC made it known that it will abolish the famous E-Levy and reintroduce the tolling system.
Meanwhile, the Government is yet to make a statement on the abolishment of the E-Levy.
Read Also: Gov’t to reintroduce road tolls; approved fees out
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com | Porcia Oforiwaa