Hawkers at Kasoa, Ashaiman, Ayi-Mensah and Oyibi tollbooths have expressed their displeasure over government’s cessation of road and bridge tolls across the country.
The hawkers complained that the new directive which took effect on Thursday, November 18 has affected their businesses.
The new directive comes a day after Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta announced the scrapping of all tollbooths in the country when he presented the 2022 budget to parliament on Wednesday, 17 November 2021.
Speaking with Republic Press, the hawkers who ply their trades in the Central and Greater Accra Regions respectively said their sales have dropped drastically due to the closure of tollbooths across the country.
The traders pleaded with government to give them three months notice so they can find a new location to do their hawking businesses.
According to them, the decision would have scathing effects on their lives, as most of them were single mothers and trying their wits-end to make ends meet.
Madam Yaa Boadu, a plantain chips seller at Kasoa tollbooth expressed her frustrations and inquired why the tollbooth had been stopped from operating.
“This is where I eat from. I don’t have any man in my life to cater for me. I take care of myself. Should we go into prostitution? They should wait for us to sell what we have in stock. We voted for this government to come to power and this is how they pay us back,” she lamented.
At Ayi Mensah, Martha, a pure water seller asked the Government how she was going to fend for her family without a job.
Meanwhile, tollbooth staff have also expressed disappointment that they were not given prior notice while no alternative arrangements have been made to absorb them.
They also complained that their three months salary have not been paid.
