We’ve started processes to bring back road tolls – Asenso-Boakye

The Ministry of Roads and Highways has hinted at the possible reintroduction of road tolls, which were suspended in 2021.

According to the sector minister, Francis Asenso-Boakye, his outfit has begun engaging key stakeholders for their buy-in to bring back the tolls, which have become necessary in the maintenance of Ghana’s deteriorating roads.

Effective November 2021, the government ordered the suspension of the collection of road tolls across the country in a bid to ease traffic congestion at toll booths and in the hope that a portion of the e-levy revenue would be committed to maintaining the roads.The e-levy has failed to generate the necessary funds since its passage; a development that has now led to the need for the reintroduction of road tolls.

“[Road] maintenance also means money. In many countries, they use the tolls that they collect from road tolls to finance maintenance. But in our case, we have suspended it, and I think it is a good time for us to start the discussion to bring these road tolls back and get money to maintain our roads.

“That is very important, and we have started the process by engaging the various stakeholders to get their buy-in to make sure that we bring the road tolls back,” the sector minister told reporters during an assessment tour of the Accra-Kumasi highway project.

“Many countries, they use the toll that we collect from the proceeds from road tolls to finance maintenance. So, at our ministry, we have started the process by engaging the various stakeholders to get their buy-in to make sure that we bring the road toll back. This is very important. I have never seen any serious country where they don’t toll their road,” Mr Asenso-Boakye added.

Moreover, the flagbearer of the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, during a recent campaign tour of the Volta Region, proposed a reintroduction of the tolling system.

“Let us allow the private sector the room to construct the roads. Let’s therefore bring in road-based tolls which will therefore give us the money to pay the private sector,” he suggested.