Motorists in Ghana could soon pay road and bridge tolls without stopping at toll booths after Parliament approved a 20-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession to introduce a fully electronic toll collection system.
Under the arrangement, the Ministry of Roads and Highways is authorised to partner with a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to be established by Rock Africa Limited to develop, operate and maintain the cashless tolling system.
The approval paves the way for the return of road toll collection nearly five years after the government suspended the exercise in November 2021. Lawmakers say the new electronic system is expected to improve revenue mobilisation while reducing traffic congestion and delays at toll collection points.
Contributing to the debate, former Defence Minister and Bimbilla MP Dominic Nitiwul explained that the previous government’s decision to abolish road tolls was influenced by the introduction of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), saying authorities sought to avoid imposing two charges on motorists at the same time.
“We did not want to burden Ghanaians with both the e-levy and the road tolls. Basically, that was the reason,” he said.
Despite defending the earlier policy, Mr Nitiwul welcomed the proposed electronic tolling system, describing it as a more efficient way of collecting road tolls.
“If the government decides that they will bring the road tolls, but it will be electronic, like what I have seen in South Africa, I think that I will support it,” he stated.
He explained that motorists would no longer need to stop or queue at toll booths to make payments.
“You pass, there will be a beep, and then you go; at the end of the month, they bring you a bill, and then you pay,” he added.
The Roads and Transportation Committee recommended approval of the concession after considering its report, clearing the way for the electronic road tolling system to be implemented once the necessary operational arrangements are completed.
