Accra: The Cabinet has approved the reintroduction of road and bridge tolls, focusing on modernising toll collection infrastructure as part of efforts to improve road maintenance financing. Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza, the Minister of Roads and Highways, announced this initiative at the Government Accountability Series press conference at the Presidency in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, the reform will include transitioning to electronic and automated tolling systems. This transition aims to enhance transparency, auditability of revenue flows, improve user experience, and reduce congestion at toll points. The Ministry has already launched a concessionaire prequalification process, with public advertisements issued and a prequalification conference held on 3rd July 2025. Currently, 12 firms have submitted applications, which are under evaluation.
Mr Agbodza also mentioned that the proposed new toll rates have been submitted to Parliament through the Ministry of Finance. These rates are structured to be fair, transparent, and reflective of road usage intensity. He emphasized that this modernisation supports the government's commitment to digital transformation and fiscal discipline.
In terms of rationalising the sector project portfolio, Mr Agbodza explained that an assessment of the status of contractual commitments revealed a large portfolio of existing road projects, estimated to cost about GHS 105 billion as of 31st December 2024. The Ministry, along with Road Agencies, conducted a comprehensive assessment of these contracts to recommend effective rationalisation, ensuring financial manageability while meeting the Ministry's Medium-Term plan.
Key outcomes of this rationalisation exercise include identifying non-performing and stalled contracts, suspending or restructuring low-impact projects, and prioritising high-impact economically justified roads. The restructuring aims to align existing and new projects with available funding sources while achieving the Ministry's Medium Term Development Plan goals. This exercise aligns with the pillar of financial prudence and responds to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2024 Manifesto's pledge to streamline infrastructure investment for maximum socio-economic return.
