The Ministry of Roads and Highways has announced a temporary suspension of the National Roads Authority Act 2024 (Act 1118) to facilitate further consultations. This decision, revealed in a statement released Friday, February 7th, 2025, follows concerns raised by various groups regarding the restructuring of road management agencies proposed by the Act.
Act 1118, passed by Parliament in July 2024, sought to consolidate the Ghana Highway Authority, the Department of Urban Roads, and the Department of Feeder Roads into a single entity, aiming to enhance coordination and efficiency in road management. The Ministry's statement did not specify the nature of the concerns prompting the suspension, nor did it provide a timeline for the resumption of the Act's implementation. Further details regarding the consultations are expected to be released in due course.
This development comes against the backdrop of the government's plans to reinstate road and bridge tolls. A separate statement from the Ministry on Thursday confirmed that a technologically advanced tolling system is in the works, designed to improve efficiency and transparency compared to the previous system. The new system will reportedly forgo physical toll booths, a point emphasized by Roads and Highways Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza during his January 20th vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee. Agbodza justified the reintroduction of tolls, asserting that the previous government's suspension was unlawful.
However, the decision to reintroduce tolls has not been without opposition. Alhaji Abu Gomda, a former deputy minister of roads and highways, defended the previous administration's decision to suspend toll collection, citing the need to alleviate traffic congestion. He stressed that any reintroduction of tolls must address past inefficiencies to ensure public acceptance and avoid repeating previous mistakes.
The Ministry has assured the public that the procurement process for the new tolling system will be transparent and competitive, aiming to allay concerns about potential corruption or favoritism. The interplay between the suspended Act and the planned toll reintroduction remains unclear, but the government's actions suggest a cautious approach, prioritizing stakeholder engagement and addressing public concerns before proceeding with major infrastructure reforms. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the future of road management and funding in Ghana.
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