Chairman for Gas Tankers Drivers Association, Shafui Mohammed, has described the decision of the Minister Designate for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta to increase toll rates as irrelevant.
The Minister Designate for Roads and highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, has promised to increase toll rates if he is given the nod.
According to him, a research by the Ministry of Roads and Highways has revealed that Ghana pays the lowest toll rates in the world.
Speaking to the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Tuesday 16th February 2021, he stated that on the average toll rates around the world are pegged at $1 which is around GHS6.
He added that Ghanaians pay less than the average rate, a situation he will change when given the nod as the substantive minister.
“But at the moment Ghana pays the lowest toll rates in the whole world. The research that has been done in my ministry on the average toll rates around the world is one dollar. A dollar is close to GHS6 but here people pay 50p for toll rates and if I am given the approval it is one of the things I am going to do immediately. I will go to Cabinet with a proposal to increase toll rates, which will come to this honorable house and I believe all of you will support it and Ghanaians will also accept it”, he told the appointment committee.
Chairman for Gas Tankers Drivers Association, Shafui Mohammed, who spoke on Atinka FM’s AM Drive with host Kaakyire Ofori Ayim, explained that although vehicle owners pay road worthy and pay road tolls as high as GHS2, the roads have experienced no major maintenance over the years.
He called on the Minister Designate to initiate works on the roads before kickstarting an increase in the tolls.
“He should convince us that our monies will be put to good use by starting maintenance works and fixing the roads before he decides to increase the tolls. Look at the number of vehicles that ply our roads everyday, what has become of the monies these vehicles pay”, he added.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa
