The Ghana Toll Workers Group is calling on the government to re-introduce the collection of tolls in the country, which was halted exactly one year ago.
According to the group, the government has failed to harness its promise of finding alternate livelihoods or re-assign them to other sectors after the cessation of the tolls.
In a press release signed by the Secretary of the Ghana Toll Workers Group, Mr Edward Duncan, dated Thursday, November 17, 2022, the group said that ” it will be recalled that on November 17, 2021, the Hon. Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, in the reading of the Budget Statement for the 2022 Fiscal Year, indicated that, as a policy direction, the Roads and Bridge Toll Collection would be ceased after the approval of the Budget by Parliament”.
“Unfortunately, even before Parliament deliberated on the Budget, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, in a rush, implemented the Cessation of Toll Collection”.
“This action by the Ministry of Roads and Highways plunged us, who used to man the various toll booths, into a state of shock and despair, the effect of which caused the demise of some of our colleagues”.
According to the group, the cessation of toll collection has hindered their ability to contribute to national development.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, in a communiqué dated February 16, 2022, stated that the 38 toll booths would be converted to public places of convenience, and the laid-off toll workers would be re-assigned to manage the newly created jobs.
Again, the government promised to compensate the affected staff, and this is what the group wishes to state that they have not been paid off, contrary to rumours in the public domain.
According to the toll workers, the current economic hardship is affecting them since most of them have families who depend on them for their daily bread.
Therefore, they are calling on the government to re-introduce toll collection and recall all who lost their livelihoods and dignity as workers.
Find the press release from the Ghana Toll Workers Group below