Commercial Drivers Kick Against Proposed Toll Fare Increment

Commercial drivers at some lorry terminals in Accra have kicked against proposals by the minister designate for Roads and Highways Kwesi Amoako Attah, to increase toll fares when he is approved by the vetting committee of parliament.

The Roads and Highways Minister-designate, Kwesi Amoako Attah took his turn before Parliament’s Appointments committee on Tuesday, the 16th of February 2021.

Whilst responding to questions from the vetting committee on the development of roads in the country, the Minister designate said he would, with help of parliament increase toll fares in the county.

Kwesi Amoako-Attah strongly insists that increasing the existing road tolls for vehicles in the country is the surest way to meet the demand for rehabilitation, maintenance and possible new constructions to improve infrastructure in Ghana’s road sector.

“If I am given the approval, it’s one of the things I am going to do immediately. There is going to be a proposal to increase the toll rate, and I am going to bring to this house [Parliament] for support”, Mr Amoako-Attah suggested.

The drivers in separate interviews with the Ghanareport.com insist the Minister may have to find alternative means of raising money to construct roads in the country, since the impact of the existing toll fares are yet to be felt.

Funding for roads traditionally comes from government, but there is a growing trend to seek other sources of finance for building and maintaining networks.