Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has proposed increasing the current toll amount. In consideration of restoring the tax policy, the government is taking these actions.
Mr. Ofori-Atta contacted the Ministry of Roads and Highways on March 10, 2023, to get their opinion on the suggested prices.
At the budget presentation in November 2021, the Finance Minister declared the elimination of road toll collecting, subject to parliamentary approval. The Minister has changed his mind after barely two years down the line.
The minority leader at the time, Haruna Iddrisu, said that canceling the toll collection was not a good idea. He was certain that the government will reinstate the tax at some point in the future.
“We want the road toll reinstated and we demand that the toll booths remain functional and the revenue accrued from it made available for the public. As if when you have the mandate to govern, you can do as you please. There is nowhere in the world without a functioning toll booth. The state has lost significant amount of money due to this,” Haruna Iddrisu stated.
Ken Ofori-Atta has gone back to Parliament with a new plan to bring back the tax, but this time he wants to raise the rate. The Minister of Finance has brought new fees to Parliament so that they can be approved. According to a memo sighted by Tru News Report, the plan is for all prices to go up by an average of 88.05 percent.
The Finance Ministry wants to change the prices of road tolls. Heavy buses, for example, would have to pay GH2.00. Cars will now pay GH1.00 instead of GH50, motorbikes will pay GH0.50 instead of GH0.10, and Pick-up/4*4 vehicles will pay GH1.50 instead of GH1.00.
Deputy Roads Minister Stephen Jalulah said that the government’s decision to bring back road toll is because the E-levy is not bringing in enough money.
Source – Tru News Report
