Civil Engineer at Comptran Engineering and Planning Associates, Ing Abdulai Mahama, has predicted the re-introduction of tolling levies in the next year or two.
According to him, toll levies are a legitimate source of income for the nation and “we will come back to use the tollbooths and collect toll levies. This will be done by this government or the next one, but it will happen in the near future.”
Ing Abdulai Mahama noted that most drivers have called for the return of road tolls. “They say if it comes back revised they will pay.”
The Ministry of Roads and Highways directed the discontinuation of the collection of tolls on all public roads and bridges across the country from Thursday, November 18, 2021.
The directive followed the announcement by the Finance Ministry of the scrapping of tolls on all public roads.
Not long after this, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, has also hinted at government’s plan to convert all abandoned tollbooths into decent washrooms for use by motorists.
In an interview with Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning show, Mr Mahama stated, “tollbooths are going to come back in operation and this is a prophesy, so we should stop the discussion of converting the tollbooths into washrooms. The discussion is a non-starter and the government shouldn’t even consider that.”
Ing Mahama pointed out that the Roads Minister hinted at the last town meeting on the likelihood of the re-introduction of road tolls as the decision he made on November 18 still remains unpopular.
He reiterated, “The well-designed road tolls are in good conditions and are safe for use. We don’t need to destroy them because they will be used in the near future. If it is not this year, then will go back to collecting road tolls next year and this is much more legitimate than the e-levy.”
