Cancellation of Road Toll by Aufo-Addo government was an 'act of illegality' - Kwame Agbodza
Accra, Ghana - 20 Jan, 2025 - Ghana's Roads and Highways Minister-designate, Kwame Agbodza, has denounced the Akufo-Addo government's abrupt cancellation of road tolls, branding the move as "illegal".
Speaking during his vetting by the Appointments Committee, Agbodza expressed dismay over the government's decision, emphasizing that his team had advised against scrapping the tolls without implementing reforms to enhance the system. He argued that the existing framework could have been improved to reduce inefficiencies and increase revenue.
Agbodza contended that the cancellation was unlawful, as it was executed without adhering to the requisite legal procedures, despite the toll system being legally mandated. He also highlighted the toll system's significance in financing road infrastructure projects.
“It is a matter that has attracted national attention. Accrual to the road fund was only GH¢250 million and we worked to increase it to gh¢1.5 billion, today, it is over GH¢2 billion, so we cautioned the government against cancelling the road tolls and we were surprised that they cancelled it. It was an act of illegality to cancel it,'' he stated.
Furthermore, Agbodza disputed the government's assertion that the road toll system generated merely ¢80 million, suggesting that this figure was misleading. He underscored the severe financial hardships faced by road contractors in Ghana, with some owed substantial amounts.
"The cancellation of the toll system has left road contractors in a difficult position, and it’s evident that the government needs to reassess its approach to funding road development," he explained.
"We decided to caution the government not to cancel road tolls but rather to find a way to make them better," Agbodza said.
To address these challenges, Agbodza announced plans to reinstate the road toll system in a revised form, leveraging technology to ensure efficient and fair toll collection. This modernized approach aims to balance the concerns of road users with the need for sustainable funding for road infrastructure.
Source: Lead News Online
