News:
July 16, 2017
Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Ketu North, James Klutse Avedzi has added his voice to public protests for the need by the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) to step down the whole sale implementation of a mandatory vehicle towing fee payment by all vehicle owners expected to start next month.
According to him the implementation of the regulation should be halted and treated on case by case basis as it occurs saying it is not fair for non-offenders or people whose car do not breakdown to be charged for an offence they have not committed.
Under the new levy according to the NRSC, drivers will be required to pay a road safety fee, ranging between GHC 10 and GHC 200, in addition to their road worthy certification fees among others.
Commercial vehicles and taxes will pay GH¢40, mini buses will pay GH¢80, while heavy duty trucks will pay between GH¢80 and GH¢200 annually, depending on their tonnage. Non-commercial vehicles are expected to pay GH¢20.
The Road Safety Management Services Limited (RSMSL) has already acquired some 118 trucks ahead of the implementation, for the exercise.
The National Road Safety Commission has maintained that the intended move is aimed at reducing the risk of road users running into stationery vehicles; a phenomenon which is responsible for almost 20% of road accidents.
By Christian Kpesese/ghanamps.com