2022 Budget: All tolls on public roads and bridges abolished immediately - Ofori Atta

• Ken Ofori Atta has indicated that all tolls on public rates and bridges have been abolished
• He said a new levy will be imposed to make the toll-paying more universal
• According to him, workers at the various toll booths will be reassigned

The minister of finance, Ken Ofori Atta has indicated that all tolls on public rates and bridges have been abolished.

According to him, workers at the various toll booths will be reassigned.

Ofori Atta stated that the directive takes effect immediately.

He added that a new levy will be imposed to make the toll-paying more universal

Ofori Atta said most of the roads in the country need fixing and are currently being fixed.

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He admitted that the roads were in a bad state and more roads have been fixed and are being fixed over the last five years.

He 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 leading to a negative impact on work and productivity.

He added that tolling points, aside from creating inconveniences, lead to pollution in and around places they are positioned at.

Ofori-Atta explained that all these challenges, led to the government abolishing 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.

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He said this will help the government to shore up revenue inflows to fund road projects in the country.

Mobile Money transactions to be taxed as gov't introduces 'e-levy'

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.

Source: YEN.com.gh