The Ministry of Roads and Highways has officially announced plans to reintroduce road and bridge tolls across Ghana as part of efforts to generate revenue for road maintenance and related infrastructure development.
In a press release signed by Nasir Ahmad Yartey, Head of the Public Relations Unit, the Ministry assured the public that the reintroduced toll system would be modernized and technology-driven to ensure efficiency in revenue collection.
“To this end, the Ministry is putting together the modalities for a modern, technologically driven toll collection system,” the statement read.
The Ministry also emphasized that the process of implementing the toll system would be open, transparent, competitive, cost-effective, and fair. This approach aims to address challenges associated with previous tolling systems and ensure the best value for both the government and road users.
The decision to reintroduce tolls comes after the Ghanaian government suspended toll collection in November 2021 as part of efforts to ease traffic congestion and streamline road financing mechanisms. However, concerns over road maintenance funding have prompted the government to reconsider tolling as a sustainable revenue source.
“The Ministry wishes to assure the public of its commitment to introducing a modernized system that addresses the current tolling and road maintenance funding challenges of the country,” the release stated.
While details of the implementation timeline and toll rates are yet to be announced, the move is expected to spark discussions among stakeholders, including motorists, transport unions, and economic analysts, on its potential impact on transportation costs and infrastructure development.
Many Ghanaians are likely to watch closely how the government implements this policy, with expectations that the new toll system will be more efficient, transparent, and free from the inefficiencies that plagued previous toll booths.
With the promise of a technologically advanced system, stakeholders anticipate that electronic toll collection methods, such as e-payment options and automated toll booths, could be introduced to eliminate congestion and corruption at toll points.
As the government finalizes the modalities, the success of this initiative will largely depend on how well it balances revenue generation with minimizing the financial burden on road users.