Govt not reinstating road toll across country – MRH

The Ministry of Roads and Highways’ Head of Public Relations, Nasir Ahmad Yartey, has stated that government has not reinstated road toll collection across the country.

This, he clarified in a press release yesterday, following the presentation of the 2022 mid-year budget statement by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, on Monday 25 July 2022.

“The Ministry has noted with concern reports in some sections of the media and various discussions of the re-introduction of toll collection in the country, we wish to clarify that the Finance Minister’s reference to tolls in the budget review was in respect of Public, Private Partnership road projects only,” the statement said.

It stated that, during the Finance Minister’s presentation on the financing arrangements for the Accra-Tema Motorway and Extension Project said, “When completed, the CA (Concessional Agreement) is expected to be approved by the PPP Committee, Cabinet and Parliament”.

Again, “the completed road will be tolled to recover the whole life cost of the completed infrastructure as well as pay lenders and provide a return for equity investors,” he referenced.

The Ministry further said all PPP projects must be self-financing and would be tolled, and therefore reassured the public that the government would continue to use innovative means to finance road projects across the country.

The PPP is a funding model for public infrastructure projects and initiatives such as a new telecommunications system, public transportation system, airport or power plant.

BY ANITA ANKRAH