Are You Ready to Pay More? Government Proposes New Road Toll Charges

In a bid to boost revenue and improve infrastructure, the government of Ghana has announced the reintroduction of road tolls this year.

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, recently proposed charges for the road tolls to the Minister for Roads and Highways for confirmation.

It will be recalled that road tolls were canceled in 2022 following the introduction of the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy), which attracted a lot of criticism from the public.

The reintroduction of the road tolls during the 2023 budget presentation on Thursday, 24 November 2022, was therefore greeted with mixed reactions.

In a statement, the Finance Minister explained that the reintroduction of tolls on selected public roads and highways would help to address the inefficiencies characterized by the previous toll collection regime.

He emphasized that the government would leverage technology in the collection process to ensure efficiency and transparency.

According to the proposed road toll charges, commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses would pay GH¢2 for a single trip, while private cars and motorcycles would pay GH¢1.

These charges are expected to generate significant revenue for the government, which has been struggling to finance infrastructure projects due to a shortage of funds.

The reintroduction of road tolls has, however, been met with resistance from some quarters.

Some transport unions have threatened to go on strike if the charges are implemented, arguing that it would increase the cost of doing business and ultimately affect the prices of goods and services.

The government has assured the public that the charges would be used solely for the purpose of financing road infrastructure projects, and not for any other purpose.

The government has also stated that it would work with the transport unions to address any concerns they may have about the charges.

In conclusion, the reintroduction of road tolls in Ghana is a controversial move that has generated mixed reactions.

While some see it as a necessary measure to boost revenue and improve infrastructure, others argue that it would increase the cost of doing business and ultimately affect the prices of goods and services.

It remains to be seen how the government would address these concerns and ensure that the charges are implemented in a transparent and efficient manner.