Three years after the cessation of road and ferry toll collection in Ghana, former toll workers are calling out the government for failing to fulfill promises made to them.
On November 17, 2021, following the presentation of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, toll collection was abruptly terminated, resulting in approximately 800 workers losing their jobs.
The government, through then-Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, Roads and Highways Minister Kwasi Amoako-Atta, and Tolon MP Habib Iddrisu, had pledged to reassign toll workers to alternative jobs and provide them with monthly allowances in the interim.
However, three years on, none of these commitments have been met, leaving the affected workers in despair.
In a statement on November 17, signed by the General Secretary of the Ghana Toll Workers Union, Edward Duncan, they highlighted the economic hardships they have endured and criticized the government’s failure to protect their livelihoods.
They also raised concerns over the potential introduction of automated toll collection, warning that such a move could exacerbate unemployment.
“We’ve engaged leaders from both major political parties. One suggests machines should replace humans, while the other calls for automation that still employs people. Even in countries with low unemployment, there is debate over AI and job security. In Ghana, where unemployment is high, the government seems intent on worsening the situation,” the statement read.
The group emphasized the need for the government to prioritize job creation and urged the administration to honor its promises.
Read the statement below:
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