Finance Minister-designate, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will reintroduce road tolls as part of efforts to generate revenue for road maintenance and development.
Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, January 13, 2025, Dr. Ato Forson reaffirmed the NDC’s commitment to road tolls, emphasizing their importance as a sustainable revenue stream. The Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Essiam stated that the NDC has consistently supported the reintroduction of tolls, which were abolished by the previous administration.
“The NPP submitted a concession agreement to Parliament to reintroduce road tolls, but it was not laid,” he said, pointing out the inconsistency in the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) policy approach. Dr. Forson noted that the NDC’s stance on toll collection has been unwavering, highlighting previous statements by Tamale South MP, Haruna Iddrisu, which underscored the party’s commitment to restoring the policy.
“We are not running away from this promise. We are a party that honours its commitments, and if road tolls are a means to raise revenue, we will implement them,” he assured.
He further defended the decision, describing road toll collection as a globally accepted and effective mechanism for financing road infrastructure. “If you use the road, you pay a toll. It is a standard practice worldwide. Ghana will not be the first or last country to adopt this,” Dr. Forson explained, adding that the reintroduction would be done efficiently to ensure proper accountability and that all revenues generated would go directly towards road maintenance.
Dr. Forson also pledged that the NDC would prioritize modernizing toll collection systems to reduce leakages and ensure greater transparency. This, he said, would guarantee that Ghanaians see tangible benefits from the funds collected.
The issue of road tolls has been a contentious one in Ghana. On November 18, 2021, the former Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, ordered the cessation of toll collection nationwide, following an announcement by former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta during the 2022 budget presentation that tolls had been abolished. The decision was met with widespread criticism, as it deprived the country of a critical revenue source for maintaining its deteriorating road infrastructure.
Despite this, the immediate past NPP government later reconsidered the policy and began developing a framework for reintroducing road and bridge tolls in 2025. However, this plan was contingent on retaining power after the 2024 elections.
With the NDC now poised to implement the policy, Dr. Forson’s assurance has rekindled discussions about the role of tolls in addressing Ghana’s infrastructure challenges. The proposed reintroduction is expected to be a major policy direction under the new administration, signalling a shift towards restoring lost revenue streams and improving the nation’s road network.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson
