The President of the Institution of Engineering Technology (IET-GH), Henry Kwadwo Boateng, has suggested that the payment of road tolls be incorporated into the renewal of roadworthy certificates.
He argued that the introduction of tollbooths is disadvantageous to some vehicle owners and proposed a more equitable system. Instead of tollbooths, Mr. Boateng recommended a system where vehicle owners would pay tolls during the renewal of their roadworthy certificates.
“This means we have to scrap all the tollbooths and reintroduce a system where they can pay during the renewal of their roadworthy certificates,” Mr. Boateng told the Daily Graphic yesterday.
Re-evaluation of the System
Mr. Boateng has called on the government to re-evaluate the road toll collection system, following its decision to reintroduce tolls.
During his vetting, the Minister of Finance-designate, Cassiel Ato Forson, informed the Vetting Committee that the new government intends to reintroduce road tolls in line with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2024 manifesto.
“The previous government indeed removed the road toll, but towards the end, they signaled that the road toll was coming back. They submitted it to Parliament, but it was not laid despite a concession agreement with a company to reintroduce it. The NDC indicated from day one that the road toll would come back. We are not running away from it, so I want to assure you that we are a party that sticks to our promises,” he said, among other points.
Toll System Issues
Mr. Boateng highlighted that the current tollbooth system disproportionately affects commuters, particularly those traveling daily between Kasoa and Accra, who often face long traffic jams, especially during rainy conditions.
Meanwhile, residents in affluent areas of Accra, such as Cantonments, East Legon, Airport Residential, and others who frequently use well-maintained roads, are not subjected to toll charges.
To address these disparities, Mr. Boateng suggested the removal of tollbooths and the implementation of a more efficient system.
He recommended setting up desks at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) offices, managed by physically challenged individuals, to collect road toll fees as part of the vehicle roadworthiness renewal process. The revenue would then be deposited into a designated account for road maintenance.
Under this system, smaller vehicles would pay a daily toll fee of 50 pesewas, calculated annually, while buses and heavy trucks would pay higher fees. Foreign trucks entering the country could also be charged at designated border desks based on the number of days they operate in Ghana.
Revenue Allocation
Mr. Boateng further proposed that a percentage of the revenue generated from road tolls be allocated to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to support road improvement projects (DRIP), ensuring roads remain motorable across the country.
Eliminating tollbooths, he emphasized, would reduce persistent traffic congestion at toll collection points, minimize road degradation in those areas, and improve the overall road user experience. He believes such a move would not only address long-standing challenges but also enhance road infrastructure development and maintenance.