Road toll manager re-assigned for disregarding gov’t policy

The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako Atta has ordered the removal of the Tolls Manager at the Ghana Highways Authority, Emmanuel Spencer Baah, over his disregard for the directive to employ the Persons with Disability (PWDs) as toll attendants.

Mr. Amoako Atta said there was “clear sabotage of government policy.”

Per the policy directive, at least 50 percent of persons living with disability are to manage toll booths in the country.

The 50 percent quota reservation represents a total of 200 slots across the 35 toll booths in the country.

The initiative was to help empower the PWDs in line with the New Patriotic Party government’s manifesto.

According to the Minister, only 100 persons living with disability had been employed currently, which shows a clear disregard for government policy.

“Instead of the 50 percent slot to the disabled people, only 100 [had been engaged]. And even for this  100, I have had a number of complaints…”

“…The manager for toll booths should be removed and re-assigned immediately. I will set up a committee next week to carry out an investigation into how the recruitment exercise was carried out,” he added.

The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities reinforces the need to protect the rights of children and adults with disabilities and ensure their full and equal participation in society.

Some five million people with disabilities are in Ghana, according to the UNICEF Ghana Country Report.