Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has confirmed that the government will reinstate road tolls starting in 2025 as a means of raising funds for road maintenance and infrastructure development across the country.
The road toll was abolished approximately three years ago to alleviate traffic congestion on key highways, making way for the implementation of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-levy) as an alternative revenue-generating measure.
The Electronic Transfer Levy (E-levy) mandated a 1% charge on electronic and mobile money transactions that exceeded a daily cumulative total of GHS100, reduced from the initial proposed rate of 1.5%.
During the presentation of the 2024 mid-year budget review to Parliament on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, Finance Minister Dr. Amin Adam announced the reinstatement of road tolls, stating that the move aims to “facilitate the processes for the implementation of a modernised and efficient road and bridge tolling system”.
According to Dr. Amin Adam, Cabinet has given the green light for the development of a framework to reinstate road and bridge tolls. He noted that before the tolls were abolished, Ghana generated significant revenue – approximately GHS39 million monthly and GHS72.5 million annually – which was utilized for regular maintenance and rehabilitation of public roads.
Finance Minister Dr. Amin Adam emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing Ghana’s road infrastructure, highlighting numerous projects completed in recent years.
These include the construction of new roads and upgrades to existing ones, such as the Dadiesoba-Esiankyim-Manhyia road, Antwi Agyeikrom-Debra Camp road, and others, as well as inner city roads in Sunyani and Berekum, Atebubu town roads, Assin Fosu-Dunkwa-Cocoa Station road, and Kwahu Tafo-Miaso road, among others.
Dr. Amin Adam highlighted ongoing and upcoming rehabilitation and maintenance projects, including the Juaboso-Boinzan road, Winneba-Kasoa road, Karaga town road, Gushegu Town road, Tolon Daboya Road, Nanton-Karaga-Gushegu highway, Sefwi Wiawso town roads, and Accra-Kumasi road.
He also mentioned projects nearing completion, such as the Tamale-Tatale road rehabilitation, phase two of the Tema Motorway Roundabout, and the construction of a flyover on the Accra-Tema motorway, spanning from the flowerpot roundabout on Spintex Road to East Legon.
Further projects include the Suame Interchange phase two development, the upgrade of the Nsawam-Ofankor Road to a dual carriageway, ongoing construction on the Agona Nkwanta-Tarkwa and Dome-Kitase roads, and the completion of phase two at the Obetsebi Lamptey Interchange, along with related ancillary projects.
Story by: Michael Seh
