The government of Ghana has announced plans to reintroduce toll collection across the country, but with a new system digitized and automated. The move is aimed at generating revenue for road maintenance and reducing traffic congestion and pollution at toll roads.
Details
The toll was abolished in 2022 by the previous administration, citing the negative effects of toll points on traffic flow, productivity and the environment.
However, the current Minister of Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso-Boakyesaid the suspension of tolls has left a fiscal gap in funds needed to fix dilapidated roads across the country.
Driving The News
The ministry had started engaging stakeholders to bring back the toll collection, but with a modern and efficient system that would eliminate the hassles caused by the old system.
The minister explained that the new system will be digitized and automated. He said this will reduce traffic congestion, air pollution and corruption in tolls.
By The Numbers
- Before it was postponed, Ghana was collecting approx GHC 39 million every month in 2021.
- The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) says the government can make an estimate GHC 157,680,000 per year if they automated tolls across the country.
Zoom out
This is not the first time that the government is trying to implement a digital toll collection system.
In 2009, an electronic toll collection system was put into operation in Accra-Tema Expressway. The scheme was to help cover revenue leakages as well as boost revenue for the Ghana Road Fund.
The system was a pilot program. Drivers would pay the cab operators a toll fee, the payment would be recorded in a system and a barrier for drivers to pass the car would be removed.
Cameras were installed to record the number of vehicles that crossed the toll booth. The project would eventually have payments via cards and stickers placed on vehicles.
The project, however, did not expand and was not expanded.
Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Twitterand Instagramand subscribe to our weekly newsletter to make sure you don’t miss any news.
Related