Govt to reintroduce road toll …Adopts Special Purpose Vehicle for efficiency

Ghana is set to reintroduce road and bridge tolls, reversing a 2022 decision, through a public-private partnership. Parliament has approved a 20-year concession agreement with Rock Africa Limited to manage the system, which will be implemented via a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).

The project involves a three-year design and construction phase, followed by 17 years of operation and maintenance. A key feature is the deployment of a nationwide Multi-Lane Free Flow Electronic Tolling System across 66 locations, aiming to modernize collection and reduce congestion. The agreement stipulates a revenue-sharing model where the government receives 70% of the toll revenue, and the concessionaire gets 30%.

Toll rates will be established under new regulations and reviewed every four years based on the Consumer Price Index. Lawmakers on the Roads and Transport Committee described the agreement as a pragmatic step for the road sector's sustainability. They urged transparent and efficient administration and recommended a public sensitization campaign before the system goes live.

Concerns about overloaded trucks led to a proposal for automatic weight detection systems. The reintroduction of tolls is expected to help the Ghana Road Maintenance Trust Fund mobilize necessary resources for road upkeep. Minority members of Parliament expressed support, noting a previous similar proposal they had backed.

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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.