Hawkers at the Pwalugu Tollbooth in Talensi in the Upper East Region say the government’s suggestion for them to move from the various toll booths and ‘setup shop’ in the various markets is not feasible. The hawkers explained that the suggestion was unfair and not well-thought through.
When A1 Radio’s New Team visited the tollbooth, almost four weeks after the cessation of toll collection and the closure of the booths, the hawkers, most of whom, were seated dejectedly waiting for vehicles to come to a complete stop before they could conduct business with occupants on board were unhappy about their current economic predicament.
One of the hawkers who said he had been hawking at the booth for over a decade and gave his name as ‘Nkomode’ explained that if the hawkers are to relocate to the market within the Pwalugu township, it will exacerbate the problem of congestion in the market.
He explained that the service the hawkers provide at the tollbooth is essential as passengers on board both private and public vehicles who may not have had the opportunity to visit various market centres could purchase fruits, vegetables, tubers and many other food items on their way from place to place.
While worrying about the unfortunate economic downturn, he also pleaded with drivers to reduce their speed when approaching the unused booths.
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 12 am, Thursday, November 18, 2021.
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.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Private Transport Union (GPRTU) has 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| Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith | Ghana
