Roads and Highways Minister-designate, Kwame Agbodza, has criticised the Akufo-Addo government for its decision to cancel road tolls, calling the move "illegal."
Speaking during his vetting by the Appointments Committee on Monday, January 20, Agbodza expressed his disbelief over the cancellation, explaining that his team had cautioned the government against eliminating the tolls without finding a way to improve and enhance the system.
We decided to caution the government not to cancel road tolls but rather to find a way to make them better," Agbodza said.
He stressed that the system could have been reformed to reduce leakages and increase efficiency.
Agbodza further labelled the cancellation as an "act of illegality," arguing that it was done without the proper legal process, despite the toll system being backed by law. He also pointed out that the toll system was not only a law but an essential tool for the funding of road infrastructure projects.
In his remarks, Agbodza also criticised the government's claim that the road toll system was only generating ¢80 million, suggesting that this figure was misleading.
He highlighted the severe financial strain faced by road contractors in Ghana, with some owed amounts as high as GH¢5,000.
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.
Agbodza went on to announce that the road toll system would be reinstated, albeit in a new form. He assured that the tolls would no longer involve physical barriers or manual toll collection by attendants.
Instead, he proposed a more modern and efficient approach that would use technology to ensure a fair and seamless toll collection process.
Agbodza expressed his belief that this system would address both the concerns of road users and the need for sustainable funding for road infrastructure.
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