Dead news has not ceased to be relevant in the current scheme of things.
The rumour mill continues to churn items, some of which are tagged ”Fake news”. Speculations that 38 toll booths shut down by the government are to be converted into public places of convenience set social media agog. It is probably the reason Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta issued the communiqué debunking that notice on 16 February 2022.
It is nearly two years since the communiqué was released yet the toll booths remain vacated and not in use. The toll booths at Kasoa are rusting away and by inference, other such facilities look like they are also depreciating in neglect.
All places toll booths were known centres of revenue collection and mobilization, but not anymore as the decision to end the age-old system has put a stop to that revenue stream. Well, that is a relief to motorists. They do not have to pay and they do not have to be in queues waiting for their turn to pay the toll. Actions following a declaration by the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on 17th November 2022, in his address to the nation.
Flowing from this was the ease in traffic flow but hawkers queried the move for they had no opportunity to capitalize on slower traffic to make sales as was the case previously. Drivers now whizz past them.
The public was made to understand that toll booths will be remodelled to serve as police posts, emergency, towing application centres, public places of convenience for motorists and to provide other ancillary services. Per the statement issued by the sector ministry, the redundant staff of the liquidated system was to remain on their salaries while the government worked on their redeployment to other sectors. How possible is this in the challenging financial period between 2022 and the unpredictable years ahead?
Until the torch was lit on social media, it could have passed as a forgotten issue, and this is why this piece is not just a reminder but a call to duty that intentions be actualized. Proposed alternatives are as relevant as the side-stepped system, all of which remain white elephants up to this stage.
The governing New Patriotic Party has abolished fees in senior high schools and it is still a work in progress as far as ensuring each district has a decent hospital and a factory.
Building factories and hospitals in each district require huge sums of money. Making senior high schools free needs enough funds to manage the policy. Yes indeed, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has good intentions for the people of Ghana, judging by his plans and policies but how well are the implementations?
Given the maze of issues, especially the woeful imbalance between projections and actual resources, the road tolls should not have been scrapped. It should have been in place to anchor revenues. Perhaps, the lack of transparency and accountability in the management of revenue from these sources such as failure to declare amounts generated are reasons the public is aloof to the changes which were invoked. The closure of toll booths in the country was good news to the drivers as they felt cheated for plying on bad roads, and no exception to this depressing situation are roads where some of the booths are located.
The state apparatus will however argue that what people think is shrouded in secrecy is laid bare before the public accounts committee of parliament. Ordinarily, officials will use such a forum to explain how the road fund is put to use.
Weighing into the issue is the former Tamale Central MP, and a former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Inusah Fuseini who finds it very strange the government’s decision to abolish the payment of tolls on major highways.
He noted that vehicle owners or users never embarked on a demonstration that called for the scrapping of road tolls.
According to him, the government can generate enough revenue from the various toll booths because road construction is one of the expensive and capital-intensive ventures.
Reflect on something here. When the 38 toll booths are remodelled into police posts, emergency, and towing centres, and ancillary services, and new staff are employed, will the government continue to pay the former toll booth workers?
And if yes, for how long? What if these former toll booth workers have found other jobs, what are the systems to track all these? Anyway, those are just some questions for you to ponder over looking at the economic state of Ghana.
READ ALSO:
- Two Injured After Motorway Toll Booth Crash
- Abandoned Tollbooths To Be Converted Into Washrooms – Amoako-Atta
