News:
Abolishing of all road tolls
November 17, 2021
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, at the presentation of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy on Wednesday, November 16, 2021 announced the abolishing of all road tolls on public roads and bridges.
He indicated that not only are these road toll collection points create congestions but also result in pollution.
“Mr. Speaker, our roads need fixing. Our roads are being fixed. It is true that more roads have been fixed and are being fixed over the last five years than any relative period in the entire history of our nation. We even want to do a lot more.
“That is why for decades, Government after Government imposed and maintained tolls on some public roads to raise funds for road construction and maintenance. This is the situation in many countries. Over the years, the tolling points have led to heavy traffic on our roads and lengthened travel time from one place to another, impacting negatively on time and productivity. The congestion generated at the tolling points, besides creating these inconveniences, also leads to pollution in and around those vicinities.
The abolition, he stated takes immediately effect after the Budget is approved.
He assured that a more innovative ways would be adopted to raise revenue for the purposes of road construction among others.
Meanwhile, the Finance Minister assured that personnel at the toll collection points would be reassigned.
He expressed confidence that the expected impact on productivity and reduced environmental pollution will more than offset the revenue forgone by removing the tolls.
Ghanamps.com