PWDs Protest At Roads Ministry To Demand Re-Introduction Of Tolls

Some persons with disabilities protested overnight at the premises of the Roads Ministry to demand the reinstatement of scrapped road tolls.

According to the protesters, the cessation of the collection of road tolls by the government has rendered most of them jobless, despite a promise by the minister to reassign them.

In an interview with the media at the premises of the Roads Ministry, the toll workers alleged that some of their colleagues who are political loyalists of the government have been reassigned while the rest have remained jobless for the past two years.

Exactly two years ago, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, scraped the collection of road and ferry tolls across all 38 toll booths.

In a press statement on November 13,  the former toll workers reiterated that the “empty promises” made by the Roads Minister, Kwesi Amoako Atta, have made them “hopeless”.

“It is, however, very sad to state that two years after the Government took away our livelihood and right to live a dignified life, none of the promises it made to us have been fulfilled, despite all the pleas we have made on the many occasions we’ve engaged the relevant authorities including chief directors, heads of departments and the Hon. Minister for Roads and Highways Kwesi Amoako Atta”.

“It is surprising and difficult for us to understand why our government is treating us this way, especially when the cessation was through no fault of ours”.

“We want the government to know that we exist and are still expectant. We further ask our government to respectfully honour its word and bring closure to this stalemate because the situation has become extremely unbearable for us,” the toll workers highlighted in the statement.

The workers also expect the government to pay them their arrears to enable them to start new businesses if reinstatement fails.