Government is set to reintroduce road and bridge tolls under a public-private partnership (PPP), marking the return of the tolling system abolished in 2022.
The move follows Parliament’s approval of a 20-year concession agreement between the Government of Ghana and a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to be incorporated by Rock Africa Limited (RAL) for the implementation of the project.
The concession comprises a three-year design and construction period and a 17-year operational and maintenance phase.
The approval followed the adoption of the Roads and Transport Committee’s report by Parliament on Thursday.
According to the Committee, the project seeks to modernise toll collection through the deployment of a nationwide Multi-Lane Free Flow Electronic Tolling System.
The system will cover 66 tolling locations across 13 operational corridors, made up of 38 existing toll sites and 28 newly identified strategic locations.
The project includes the design, financing, construction and operation of toll gantries, installation of electronic tolling equipment, establishment of a central back office and traffic management centre, customer service centres, enforcement systems, and routine maintenance of adjoining road sections.
Under the revenue-sharing arrangement, the government will receive 70 per cent of toll revenue, while the concessionaire will receive 30 per cent.
The Committee’s report stated that toll rates would be approved under the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2512), and reviewed every four years based on the Consumer Price Index.
The Committee described the agreement as a pragmatic step towards ensuring the long-term sustainability of the road sector and urged the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the implementing agency to administer the project in a transparent, efficient and equitable manner.
It noted that the electronic tolling system would significantly reduce congestion at toll points and eliminate the inefficiencies associated with the manual system.
The committee further recommended a nationwide public sensitisation campaign before the system becomes operational to promote public awareness and compliance. It also proposed the installation of automatic weight detection systems at toll points to monitor overloaded trucks.
Contributing to the debate, the Ranking Member of the Committee and Member of Parliament (MP) for Akim Swedru, Mr Kennedy Osei Nyarko, said the electronic tolling system would enable the Ghana Road Maintenance Trust Fund to mobilise the resources needed for road maintenance.
The MP for Bimbilla, Mr Dominic Nitiwul, said the Minority Caucus supported the reintroduction of road and bridge tolls.
“Mr Speaker, the then Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Asenso-Boakye, brought similar proposal and we all agreed to it in Cabinet and Cabinet accepted it. So, I will be a hypocrite to come and say that I won’t support it,” Mr Nitiwul said.
He said the previous administration abolished road tolls because it did not want to burden Ghanaians with both tolls and the E-Levy.
“But if the government decides to bring the road tolls but it will be electronic like what I have seen in South Africa, I think I will support it,” he added.
BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
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