Kwame Agbodza reaffirms his stands on the cancellation of road tolls bythe Akufo-Addo government
Kwame Agbodza reaffirms his stands on the cancellation of road tolls bythe Akufo-Addo government
Minister for Roads and Highways designate, Mr. Kwame Agbodza, has maintained his earlier stand on the cancellation of road tolls by the Akufo-Addo government where he described the arbitrary act of the then government as illegal.
He maintained that the cancellation was an “act of illegality,” arguing that it was done without the proper legal process, despite the toll system being backed by law. He also pointed out that the toll system was not only a law but an essential tool for the funding of road infrastructure projects.
Mr. Agbodza reiterated his earlier stand on the cancellation of road tolls describing it as illegal, when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Monday, January 20, 202,5 for his vetting.
The Minister for Roads and Highways designate, expressed his disbelief over the cancellation, explaining that his team had cautioned the government against eliminating the tolls without finding a way to improve and enhance the system.
“We decided to caution the government not to cancel road tolls but rather to find a way to make them better. The system could have been reformed to reduce leakages and increase efficiency,” Mr. Agbodza stressed.
Mr. Agbodza during his response to questions also criticised the government’s claim that the road toll system was only generating ¢80 million, suggesting that this figure was misleading.
He highlighted the severe financial strain faced by road contractors in Ghana, with some owed amounts as high as GH¢5,000.
“The cancellation of the toll system has left road contractors in a difficult position, and it’s evident that the government needs to reassess its approach to funding road development,” he explained.
The Roads and Highways Minister-designate hinted that the road toll system would be reinstated, albeit in a new form. He assured that the tolls would no longer involve physical barriers or manual toll collection by attendants.
Instead, he proposed a more modern and efficient approach that would use technology to ensure a fair and seamless toll collection process.
According to him, the new system would address both the concerns of road users and the need for sustainable funding for road infrastructure.
