No road toll on public roads and bridges takes effect tomorrow, November 18 - Roads ministry
- The Ministry of Roads and Highway has announced that effective Thursday, November 18, 2021, there would be no collection of road tolls
- At exactly 12:00 am all road users would use the road without paying for tolls
- The Motor Traffic and Transport Department will be present at all toll booths to provide security
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The Ministry of Roads and Highway has announced that effective tomorrow, November 18, 2021, there would be no collection of road tolls at the various toll booths across the country.
According to a statement released by the ministry, at exactly 12:00 am all road users would use the road without paying for tolls.
The Motor Traffic and Transport Department will be on hand to provide security at the toll locations from the effective date.
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Motorists are however encouraged to approach the various toll locations with care and observe all safety measures put in place.
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The ministry added that the MTTD will be advised on measures in due time.
The directive from the ministry follows an announcement made by the finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, during the 2022 economic policy and budget statement in parliament.
Road tolls to be abolished after budget approval
In an earlier report filed by YEN.com.gh the finance minister said for decades, government after government imposed and maintained tolls on some public roads to raise funds for road construction and maintenance.
According to Ofori-Atta, the tolling points have always led to heavy traffic on our roads, created inconveniences, and lead to pollution in and around places they are positioned at.
Ofori-Atta explained that all these challenges led to the decision of the government to abolish all tolls on public roads and bridges.
The finance minister said it would take effect immediately after the Budget is approved.
He added that the expected impact on productivity and reduced environmental pollution will more than offset the revenue forgone by removing the tolls.
Mobile Money transactions to be taxed as gov't introduces 'e-levy'
Meanwhile, to compensate for the road tolls, Ofori Atta said the government is looking to introduce innovative ways of raising revenue such as the proposed 1.7% phone transactions levy payable by mobile money users per transaction above GHS 100.
He announced that a new levy will be charged by the government in 2022 on all electronic transactions.
This according to him will widen the tax net and rope in the informal sector.
He said the new electronic levy which will cover mobile money transactions and other electronic bank transfers will take effect from February 1, 2022.
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