Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has proposed the implementation of a comprehensive road toll system in Ghana to enhance the country’s road infrastructure.
The NPP’s 2024 presidential candidate highlighted the importance of involving the private sector in funding road projects, as the government alone may not have sufficient resources.
In 2022, the NPP government eliminated road tolls to alleviate traffic congestion on major roads. However, Dr. Bawumia suggested that reintroducing a more extensive tolling system could generate the necessary funds for infrastructure development.
During a meeting with religious leaders in the Volta Region, Dr. Bawumia acknowledged public concerns about the poor state of roads and stressed the importance of exploring alternative funding mechanisms like road tolling.
Furthermore, the Vice President emphasized the potential role of the private sector in complementing road toll revenue to ensure adequate road maintenance and support for infrastructure development.
Dr. Bawumia also called for a reassessment of the government’s strategy for financing road infrastructure projects.
Let us go back to a system of broad-based road tolls. The tolling system has to come back, and I think it will come back.
It is a fundamental mistake of the government to place all road projects on the budget. The government doesn’t have enough money and the private sector has to be brought in.
Dr. Bawumia highlighted that the private sector would introduce a lease payment option to facilitate the implementation of essential infrastructure for the country, similar to their contribution in advancing the nation’s digital agenda.
The Vice President expressed his vision for Ghana in the event of being elected as president, emphasizing his dedication to expanding agriculture, ensuring sufficient power supply, and reforming the tax system of the nation.
He emphasized the significance of acknowledging the church for its role in national development and assured to provide it with the necessary assistance.
Accompanying the Vice President were the leaders of the NPP, including Mr. Stephen Ntim, the National Chairman of the NPP, and Mr. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
