Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta has announced that new roads being built by the government in collaboration with investors would be tolled.
He said that the highways, the majority of which will be built via public-private partnerships (PPP), would have consumers pay to use them in order to recoup the expenditures.
Mr. Ofori-Atta said this on the floor of Parliament on Monday, July 25th, when he gave the mid-year budget review.
He emphasized that the new projects must be “self-financing,” which can only be accomplished by tolling the roads.
Mr Ofori-Atta did not mince words when he said that the tolls will also be used to pay contractors and distribute equity to investors.
Tolls on public highways in the nation were eliminated in the 2022 budget statement and the government’s financial policy, which were announced on Wednesday, November 17, 2021.
Mr Ofori-Atta told Parliament at the time that the decision was made due to high traffic, expansive markets, and pollution around the tollbooths.
“It is true that more roads have been repaired and are being repaired in the past five years than at any other time in our country’s history.” We want to achieve even more, and this money will allow us to do so.
“That is why, for decades, governments placed and maintained tolls on certain public highways in order to support road building and maintenance.”
“This is the case in many nations.” However, over time, tolling locations have become unhealthy market places, causing high traffic on our roadways, increasing travel time from one location to another, and severely impacting productivity.
“In addition to these inconveniences, the congestion caused by tolling sites contributes to pollution in and around those areas.”
“In response to these issues, the government has eliminated all tolls on public highways and bridges.” This is effective as soon as the Budget is authorized (after appropriation or now?). Personnel responsible for toll collection will be transferred. The projected increase in productivity and decreased pollution will more than offset the income lost by eliminating tolls.”