Government has decided to reintroduce the collection of road tolls on selected public roads in the country from 2023.
In the 2023 budget presented to parliament last Thursday, November 24, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, the reintroduction of the road toll is one of the revenue measures the government plans to use to generate revenue in the coming years.
“The fiscal policy measures to underpin the 2023 Budget for consideration and approval by Parliament include the reintroduction of tolls on selected public roads and highways with a renewed focus on leveraging technology in the collection to address the inefficiencies characterized by the previous toll collection regime,” paragraph 462 of the 2023 Budget statement reads.
The government ceased the payment of tolls on public roads in November 2021 as part of policy measures announced by the government in the 2022 Budget.
The policy however brought some controversies and rendered several individuals jobless but was finally implemented.
Debating the 2023 budget statement on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, Minority Spokesperson on Roads and Transport, Governs Kwame Agbodza welcomed this new decision.
“We welcome the decision by the Roads Minister to bring back road tolls.
We take no pride in saying we told you so. Mr Speaker, it was populist, unnecessary and they were there shouting we are going to do it because we have e-levy today they have brought a law here that they want to bring back road toll,” he said.
The Minority however stated that they will offer their full support only if the revenue from the collection of the toll would be used solely on road maintenance.
