We don’t intend to toll roads – Roads Ministry clarifies Ofori-Atta’s statement
As Ghanaians get ready to start paying tolls on some selected roads, the government has hit back at critics who claimed it was re-introducing road tolls in the country through the back door.
The government has had its fair share of bashing following the announcement by Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta that it now wants to toll some new road projects in the country citing the Tema Motorway expansion project as a classical example.
It will be recalled that the collection of road and bridge tolls during the 2022 budget statement was suspended by the government.
But following Ofori-Atta’s announcement of the new decision during the mid-year budget review presented on Monday, July 25, 2022, some Ghanaians have lambasted the government over the issue.
However, the Roads Ministry in a statement has clarified that government does not intend to re-introduce the road tolls which were suspended a few months ago.
“The Ministry wishes to state categorically that the government has not reinstated toll collection across the country. We further wish to clarify that the Finance Minister’s reference to tolls in the budget review was in respect of PPP road projects only. The Ministry wishes to reassure the public that the government will continue to use innovative means to finance road projects across the country,” Nasir Ahmad Yartey, Head of Public Relations at the Roads Ministry, clarified.
Read statement below
