Abolish road tolls or we will put all transport businesses on hold – Alliance of Drivers

The Alliance of Drivers has expressed displeasure over the government’s plan to reintroduce road tolls this year.

This follows the letter from the Ministry of Finance to the Minister for Roads and Highways on proposed toll rates for confirmation.

But according to the drivers, excessive dust and dirt on the roads, unnecessary congestion and traffic, and high cost of fuel as a result of a delay in traffic among others were the reasons they had called for the scrapping of the toll collection.

They said these situations have greatly improved since the tolls were abolished about a year ago.

A statement issued on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, by the drivers questioned the “sudden” reintroduction of road tolls.

They also want the government to explain to members the reason behind this sudden diversion considering the current unfavourable economic situation.

“If the above suggestions are not adhered to by the government, we will urge all drivers and transport operators to put on hold all transport business.

“We believe it can be done and be done well if proper consultation is done on these key decisions as the negative impact on the ordinary Ghanaian is unbearable,” the statement said.

The Finance Ministry in a statement dated March 13 said, “we are by this letter sending the recommended rates for input by the Ministry of Roads and Highways to enable this Ministry to finalize the schedule of fees under the upcoming Legislative Instrument”.

This year, the government will resume the collection of road tolls on selected roads in the country.

The reinstatement of the road toll was one of the revenue-generating plans in the 2023 budget submitted to Parliament last November.

Payment of tolls on public roads ceased in November 2021 as part of policy measures announced by the government in the 2022 budget, a move that displaced several road toll collectors.