The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Tema Branch, has called on the government to adopt an electronic road toll system to address issues of mismanagement and improve revenue collection.
The union stated that digitalising toll collection would enhance transparency, eliminate revenue leakages, and modernise Ghana’s road management system.
Daniel Abeku Dadson, Chairman of the Tema Industrial Area Taxi Branch of GPRTU, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that there was a need to improve the toll collection system to reduce congestion at toll booths, enhance the safety of toll attendants, and minimise conflicts between drivers and toll collectors.
Mr. Dadson said the system would also create a reliable database on road usage patterns, which would be valuable for planning future road projects, emphasizing that the government must prioritise digitalisation to ensure accountability and fairness.
He, however, noted that the government must exercise due diligence to avoid removing taxes that could negatively impact the country’s economy. He further stressed the need for all foreign haulage vehicles to be taxed for using Ghana’s roads for business purposes.
Mr. Seidu Asamoah, Station Master of the Tema-Koforidua station, mentioned that the previous toll system was characterised by allegations of corruption, underreporting of funds, mismanagement, and traffic congestion, which negatively affected the maintenance and development of road infrastructure across the country.
Mr. Asamoah said reforms were required in the collection of road tolls, adding, “We believe an electronic toll collection system will address the inefficiencies in the current system because this will ensure that every pesewa collected is accounted for.”
He noted that the increasing volume of vehicles on the roads, especially in urban areas such as Tema, makes the introduction of an automated system even more necessary. He suggested that the electronic toll system could include options such as prepaid cards, mobile money payments, and other cashless options.
He, however, called for the expansion of roads to reduce congestion and robbery across the country, especially in highly trafficked areas.
Yaw Frimpong, a Tema-to-Accra driver, said, “The manual process was slow and full of loopholes; if the government is serious about improving the situation, it must embrace technology.”
The union called on the government to engage transport unions, drivers, and other road users in consultations to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative.
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