The government will reintroduce the collection of road toll on selected roads in the country next year.
The reintroduction of the road toll is one of the revenue measures contained in the 2023 budget presented to Parliament by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta last week.
“The fiscal policy measures to underpin the 2023 Budget for consideration and approval by Parliament include the reintroduction of tolls on selected public roads and highways with a renewed focus on leveraging technology in the collection to address the inefficiencies characterized by the previous toll collection regime,” paragraph 462 of the 2023 Budget statement reads.
Payment of toll on public roads ceased in November 2021 as part of policy measures announced by government under the 2022 Budget.
Debating the 2023 budget statement on Wednesday, the Minority members led by the Minority Spokesperson on Roads and Transport, Governs Kwame Agbodza welcomed this new decision.
“We welcome the decision by the Roads Minister to bring back road tolls. We take no pride in saying we told you so. Mr. Speaker, it was populist, unnecessary and they were there shouting we are going to do it because we have e-levy…today they have brought a law here that they want to bring back road toll,” he said.
Nonetheless, the Minority stated that they will offer their full support only if the revenue from the collection of the toll would be used solely on road maintenance.