Finance Ministry Proposes New Rates For Road Toll

The Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta has proposed an increment in the amount paid as road toll. This is part of steps being taken by the government as it also considers reintroducing the tax policy. In a memo dated on the 10th March, 2023 to Roads and Highways Ministry, Ofori-Atta sought their input on the proposed rates.

In November 2021, the Finance Minister announced the cessation of the collection of road toll, subject to the approval of Parliament, during the presentation of the budget. He cited congestion and traffic jams at the toll booths as justification for the decision. “Over the years, the tolling points have become unhealthy market centers, led to heavy traffic on our roads.

Lengthened travel time from one place to the other and impacted negatively on productivity. “The congestion generated at the tolling points also leads to pollution, in and around the vicinity. To address these challenges, government has abolished the collection of road toll on all public roads,” Mr Ofori-Atta announced in 2021.

Before Parliament could deliberate on the proposal by Mr. Ofori-Atta, the Roads and Highways Minister, Mr. Kwasi Amoako-Attah issued a press release to cancel the collection of road toll.The then Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu rejected the cancellation of the toll collection.He predicted that government will at some point reintroduce the levy.