Kwame Governs Agbodza, the Roads and Highways Minister-designate, has described the scrapping of road tolls by the Akufo-Addo government as illegal.
According to him, the cancellation was surprising, as the then Minority members of Parliament’s Roads and Transport Committee had advised the government against removing the tolls.
Speaking during his vetting by members of the Appointments Committee on Monday, January 20, 2025, he stated that the decision had significant financial implications for the road sector.
He hinted at the possible reintroduction of road tolls as a measure to enhance revenue generation for the development of road infrastructure.
“We urged the government not to abolish the road tolls, but it did so instead of exploring ways to improve them,” Mr. Agbodza stated. He emphasized that the system could have been reformed to reduce inefficiencies and minimize financial leakages.
Mr. Agbodza also labeled the cancellation as an “act of illegality,” asserting that it was carried out without following the proper legal procedures, despite the toll system being underpinned by legislation.
He further pointed out that the toll system was not only a legal framework but also a vital mechanism for financing road infrastructure projects.
The minister-designate also challenged the previous government’s claim that the toll system only generated GH¢80 million, suggesting that this figure was misleading.
“The abolition of the toll system has placed road contractors in a difficult situation, and it is clear that the government needs to reconsider its strategy for financing road development,” he explained.
Agbodza went on to announce that the road toll system would be reinstated, but in a revamped form. He assured that the new system would eliminate physical barriers and manual toll collection by attendants, instead introducing a more modern and efficient, technology-driven approach to ensure a fair and seamless process.
“It is a matter that has attracted national attention. The accrual to the road fund was only GH¢250 million, and we worked to increase it to GH¢1.5 billion. Today, it is over GH¢2 billion. So, we cautioned the government against cancelling the road tolls, and we were surprised that they did. It was an act of illegality to cancel it,” he reiterated.
Mr. Agbodza expressed confidence that this new road toll system would address both the concerns of road users and the need for sustainable funding for road infrastructure.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House