The Roads and Highways Minister-designate, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, has hinted of increasing road tolls if approved by Parliament’s vetting committee.
“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 said when he appeared before the vetting committee on Tuesday, 16 February 2021.
In his view, road toll in Ghana is on the low compared to other parts of the world and, therefore, for Ghanaians to enjoy good roads, there is a need for them to pay for it.
Mr Amoako-Attah told the committee “The research that has been done in my ministry suggest that, on the average, toll rate is about a dollar. In Ghana, a dollar is close to GHS 6 but people pay GHS 50p as road toll.”
Although he agreed a section of the populace might kick against the attempt to increase road tolls, Mr Amoako-Attah insisted it was in the interest of Ghanaians if they want good quality roads.
“The last time tolls were increased, there was so much hue and cry in this country. We all saw what happened in this country with drivers saying they will go on strike. Will Ghanaians be prepared to pay more for road toll as it is seen in other parts of the world? We pay the lowest rate; meanwhile, we want good roads. Ghanaians should be prepared to pay for good roads and if I am giving the opportunity, it will be done”, he noted.
Hon Kwasi Amoako-Atta, also attributed the delay in paying road contractors to the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy.
According to him, the pandemic affected government’s revenue mobilisation to settle the arrears owed contractors on time.
Responding to a question posed by the Ranking Member on the Appointments Committee, Haruna Iddrisu, the sector Minister, Amoako-Atta assured the committee of government’s commitment to pay its indebtedness to contractors.
“Mr Chairman, I will not sit down here and say that all contractors have been paid on schedule even though the government for the past four years has made efforts to pay our contractors because of the good work they render to the country.
“There are also outstanding payments and efforts are being made as and when monies are released to the Ministry. But Mr Chairman, we should not lose sight of the fact of the difficulties we all went through as a government and as a nation due to Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Mr Amoako Atta, however, denied claims that government discriminates against some contractors in the payments of debt owes to contractors.
He stated that the Road Fund is being managed by a credible Board under a strong leadership who will ensure that fairness prevails.
Source: Mypublisher24.com