Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways Member of Parliament (MP) for Afigya Sekyere East, Stephen Pambiin Jalulah said the decision by the Ministry of Roads and Highway to immediately cease the collection of road tolls on public roads and bridges was to prevent unnecessary altercations between roads users and toll booth attendants.
Mr. Jalulah said information reached the Ministry after the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, read the 2022 Economic Policy and Budget Statement that some vehicle operators forced their way through the barriers despite warnings by attendants that the abolition of the road tolls had not kicked in.
The Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways said the decision was therefore taken, to protect attendants across the country from harm.
“Immediately after the budget was presented, we realized that a lot of motorists were passing by the booths without even stopping and creating danger for our staff at the toll booths. My boss [Minster for Roads and Highways] decided that why don’t we then stop to prevent any brouhaha at the booths. I know that effectively, it was supposed to be done through the Parliamentary system,” he explained.
Mr. Jalulah said it made economic sense to scrap the tolls as it contributes only 3 percent to the road fund. He added that toll booths have been known to create overcrowding amongst vehicles and also cause pollution.
He made these known when he spoke to Samuel Mbura on A1 Radio’s Day break Upper East Show. He reiterated government’s commitment to fixing the roads in the country. “The roads that are under construction are definitely going to be completed before their tenure of office comes to an end. A lot of roads have been planned to help the country grow better,” he said.
Background
The Minister for Roads and Highways Kwasi Amoako-Attah issued a directive to stop the collection of road tolls on public roads and bridges. The directive which followed the presentation of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, takes effect from 12am, Thursday November 18th 2021.
Meanwhile, The Ghana Private Transport Union (GPRTU) disclosed that vehicle operators in the country came together to moot the idea to cease the collection of road tolls on public roads and bridges. The GPRTU said in a meeting with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Transport in June early this year, the unions suggested the move to government as a measure to stop revenue leakage.
The General Secretary of GPRTU Godfred Abulbire, speaking to Samuel Mbura on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show explained that the Unions met the Parliamentary Select Committee to address the many concerns of road crashes on the Accra-Kumasi Highway.
A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHz| Diana Quansah|Ghana
