Minister of Finance has confirmed that tolls on roads and bridges are set to be reintroduced this year. This statement was released after the revenue shortfall from the e-Levy, which was introduced in 2022.
The reintroduction of tolls was announced in the 2023 budget, which was read in Parliament on Thursday, November 24, 2022.
The tolls were canceled in 2022 when the Electronic Transaction Levy was introduced in an effort to generate more revenue from a wider section of the public. However, due to the revenue shortfall from the e-Levy, the government has decided to reintroduce tolls on selected public roads and highways.
“The fiscal policy measures to underpin the 2023 Budget for consideration and approval by Parliament include the reintroduction of tolls on selected public roads and highways with a renewed focus on leveraging technology in the collection to address the inefficiencies characterized by the previous toll collection regime,” the Finance Minister stated in Parliament.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Finance, there will be an average increase rate of 88.05 percent across the board. Heavy buses, for example, will pay GH¢1.5 instead of the proposed GH¢2 by the Roads Ministry, while cars will pay GHp50 instead of the proposed GH¢1.
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The reintroduction of tolls has sparked mixed reactions from Ghanaians. While some see it as a necessary measure to generate revenue for the government, others argue that it will increase the cost of transportation for ordinary Ghanaians.
The government has assured the public that the tolls will be collected efficiently, with a renewed focus on leveraging technology in the collection process to address the inefficiencies characterized by the previous toll collection regime.
[…] Finance Ministry approved new rates for road toll reintroduction […]