The General Secretary of the Toll Workers Association of Ghana, Edward Duncan, has expressed frustration over the government’s treatment of its members.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Duncan said the workers are “going through hell,” especially in the current economic situation.
“Three years after the cessation of road and ferry toll collection in Ghana, the government does not care about us. They only care about themselves, their families, and their friends,” he stated.
According to him, the treatment being meted out to them by the government is unfair.
“It is not fair, and I am very disappointed in how the government is treating us. The issue has greatly affected us. Some marriages have broken down, others have gone back to mining, some even to illegal mining, and many are now unemployed,” he said.
Mr. Duncan emphasized that the toll workers were not responsible for the closure of the booths.
“It was no fault of ours that the tolls were closed. Some of our members have even resorted to begging to survive,” he added.
The General Secretary also revealed that the association had taken action by sending two letters to the Vice President’s office, but there has been no response for months.
“We have not heard from them for six months. No one has even acknowledged us. When we went to former President Mahama with our letters, he listened to us. He made policies for us and even outlined plans to reinstate the tolls when elected as president,” Mr Duncan noted.
As the election year approaches, Mr. Duncan vowed that the toll workers would take a stand and ensure they support a leader who cares about their welfare.
“Election year is around the corner, and we will make sure we get a leader who will think about our welfare,” he said.
The toll collection was abruptly terminated on November 17, 2021, following the presentation of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.
This decision led to the loss of jobs for approximately 800 workers.
ALSO READ: