By Francis Ntow
Accra, July 23, GNA – Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Finance Minister, affirms reintroduction of road tolls by the government, effective, 2025, as a way of generating revenue for the maintenance of road networks in the country.
The road toll was cancelled about three years ago to ease traffic congestion on major roads, paving way for the introduction of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-levy).
The E-levy required the payment of a one per cent levy from the initial 1.5 per cent levy on all electronic and Mobile Money (MoMo) transactions, exceeding a cumulative GHS100 per day.
Presenting the 2024 mind-year budget review to Parliament on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, Dr Amin Adam said the reintroduction is to “facilitate the processes for the implementation of a modernised and efficient road and bridge tolling system”.
He stated that Cabinet had approved the establishment a framework for the reintroduction of road and bridge tolls.
Prior to its cancellation, Ghana generated about GHS39 million monthly and some GHS72.5 million annual yield, which was used for financing periodic maintenance and rehabilitation of public roads.
Dr Amin Adam said the government was determined to improve road infrastructure in the country, and had over the years, constructed new roads, and upgraded old ones.
He mentioned the Dadiesoba-Esiankyim-Manhyia, Antwi Agyeikrom-Debra Camp and others, Sunyani and Berekum Inner City roads, Atebubu town roads, Assin Fosu-Dunkwa-Cocoa Station, and Kwahu Tafo-Miaso roads as some of the completed projects.
The rehabilitation and maintenance projects include Juaboso-Boinzan on-going roads, Winneba-Kasoa, Karaga town road, Gushegu Town and Tolon Daboya Road, Nanton-Karaga-Gushegu highway, Sefwi Wiawso town roads, and Accra-Kumasi road.
He said the following projects were at various stages of completion; rehabilitation of the Tamale-Tatale road, phase two of the Tema Motorway Roundabout, construction of the flyover over the Accra-Tema motorway from the flowerpot roundabout on the Spintex Road to East Legon.
Others are the construction of the phase two works under the Suame Interchange, dualisation of Nsawam-Ofankor Road, works on the Agona Nkwanta-Tarkwa road, works on the Dome-Kitase road, and phase two of Obetsebi Lamptey Interchange and ancillary works.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President, said, “let’s go back to a system of broad-based road tolls. The tolling system must come back, and I think it will come back.”
Engaging the Clergy in the Volta region in May 2024, the Vice Pressident said the involvement of the private sector should be considered in augmenting revenue from road tolls in providing the needed infrastructure for development.
Meanwhile, Sector Minister, Mr Francis Asenso-Boakey, in March 2024, indicated that the government had commenced talks with stakeholders to make the reintroduction effective, adding that it would be digitised and automated.
“Many countries use the revenue they generate from tolls to finance their road maintenance, but in our case, we’ve suspended it… we’ve started the process of engaging stakeholders to bring back the toll collection,” he said.
GNA