The Minister for Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso Boakye has called for urgent deliberations from the government to resume the collection of road tolls on major roads across the country.
Mr. Asenso Boakye who took over the ministry after President Akufo-Addo’s reshuffle on Wednesday, February 14 began a series of inspections on some roads across the country.
Earlier in the month, the minister inspected the progress of work done on the Obetsebi Interchange and revealed that works on the stretch would be completed ahead of schedule.
The minister’s next stop was to inspect the nature of the Accra-Kumasi highway where he noted that the ministry in the coming weeks will prioritize maintenance of deteriorated sections of the road.
He also mentioned that to maintain our roads, we need money hence the need to bring back road tolls.
“I have received petitions and complaints from road users about the road. Being an MP in Kumasi, I often use the road so I know how bad it is. This particular road needs maintenance and to maintain it we need money”, he said.
He stressed that “The importance of road tolling to generate income to maintain our roads but at some point, government had to suspend due to some economic conditions but I think it is time to as a country start the discussion to bring back road tolls”.
The former Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, during the presentation of the 2022 budget in November 2021, announced the suspension of road tolls in the country.
