The government of Ghana has scrapped road tolls paid by motorists as tollbooths on public roads across the country.
The move is meant to provide a respite to vehicle owners and road users given the heavy vehicular traffic and lengthened travel time such tollbooths cause couple with the ineffective revenue collection at such points on the roads.
This was announced by the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, in his presentation of the 2022 budget statement and economic policy to parliament on Wednesday, 17 November 2021.
Explaining the rationale behind the scrapping of the road tolls, Mr Ofori-Atta said the revenue that accrues to the state for the construction and maintenance of roads is inadequate and hence, the government has to look elsewhere to equitably generate revenue for the construction and maintenance of our roads
“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”, Mr Ofori-Atta said.
“To address these challenges, the government has abolished all tolls on public roads and bridges”, he announced.
“This takes effect immediately the Budget is approved”, he noted.
“The toll collection personnel will be reassigned”, he said.
“The expected impact on productivity and reduced environmental pollution will more than offset the revenue forgone by removing the tolls,” he added.
The minister said to compensate for the road tolls, the government is looking to introduce innovative ways of raising revenue such as the proposed 1.7% phone transactions levy payable by mobile money users per transaction above GHS 100.
He said this will help the government to shore up revenue inflows to fund road projects in the country.
