Rising toll tariffs will help finance the country’s main roads – Amoako-Attah

The designated Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah has proposed an upward revision of Ghana’s road toll rate to finance the country’s main roads.

Mr Amoako Atta made the statement during Tuesday’s verification process by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee.

This was in response to a question posed by Asawase MP Muntaka Mubarak on how to innovatively tackle the problem of financing main roads in Ghana.

He said: “At the moment, Ghana pays the lowest rate in the world … If you want to use the BOT (Build Operate Transfer) or BOOT (Build Own Operate Transfer) method as we see in others parts of the world, my department’s research on the average toll rate is around $ 1. But here people pay 50 pence for the toll.

As one of his main goals if given approval for his post as minister responsible for roads and highways, Mr. Amoako-Attah hopes to submit a proposal to parliament for an increase in road tolls.

“And if I get approval, that’s one of the things I’ll do immediately. I will first address the Cabinet and present a proposal to increase the toll rate and that will be up to the Honorable Chamber and I believe that you all will support it and that the Ghanaians will accept it ”, a- he declared.

However, he compared the situation of paying a higher toll for good roads or vice versa to the chicken and egg conundrum.

“It’s like the egg and chicken problem; which one should come first? Are people willing to pay more for good roads or should they have good roads before they pay?

Referring to the “hue and cry” of transport operators in the country in 2009 when toll rates were last increased, he questioned whether Ghanaians were willing to pay for the good roads needed in the country. country.

“I remember the last time the toll rates were increased there had been so many tones in the country, dropping it from 50p to GHS1. We have all seen what happened in Ghana. The drivers said they were going to go on strike and all that.

Regardless of the public outcry, these new toll tariffs entered into force on February 1, 2010, after approval by Parliament under the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, Act 793.

So far, Ghana has about 35 tolls including four namely; Ngleshie Aman de, Accra Plaza, Tema Plaza and Amasaman booths have been automated as of 2019.

“So will Ghanaians be willing to pay more for the toll as we are seeing in other parts of the world?

“We pay the lowest fare in the world, meanwhile we want good roads. Ghanaians must be prepared to pay for good roads, ”he concluded.