Despite the government's determination to stop collecting road tolls in November 2021, the legislation that permits their charge still remains, according to Minister of Roads and Highways Kwasi Amoako Atta.
In an interview with JoyNews, the Minister said that since the toll had not been eliminated, the government could still impose the fee.
"Tolls haven't been eliminated or cancelled. The statute is still in place, he said.
The administration said in the 2022 budget it submitted to Parliament the previous year that road toll collecting would end once the financial statement was approved.
The decision was made as a result of the traffic jams caused by the toll booths, according to Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
Mr. Amoako Atta then demanded that the toll collection stop immediately in a news statement.
Many Ghanaians, including the speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, were outraged by this instruction. Political analysts and other lawmakers suggested that Mr. Ofori-Atta be charged with all the money the state lost as a result of his directive.
One year later, the government has reintroduced road toll collection as one of the revenue measures included in the 2023 budget that Mr. Ofori-Atta presented to Parliament.
The reintroduction of tolls on some public roads and highways with a renewed focus on leveraging technology in the collection to address the inefficiencies characterized by the prior toll collection regime is one of the fiscal policy measures to support the 2023 Budget for consideration and approval by Parliament, according to paragraph 462 of the budget statement.
Mr. Kwesi Amoako-Atta claims that starting in the next year, the toll would be collected electronically.
"We're planning to construct a contemporary expressway with tolling capabilities, but they'll be electronic tolling capabilities. Electronic means will be used if necessary.
He has, however, advised drivers to be prepared to pay a higher road toll in 2023.
He said that the prior road toll payments were insufficient to build sufficient adequate roads.
To raise more money to build decent roads around the nation, there will be an increase in the amount paid as road toll.
"We wanted outstanding and wonderful roads, but we paid the lowest toll in the whole globe. We must be willing to spend more if we want nice roads. The fifty pesewas and one cedi will no longer be paid. Overseas, tolls are considerably more costly, he said.
