Government suspension of payment of road tolls on the country has received varied reactions among residents in the Bono Regional capital. While commercial drivers in the capital are applauding the government for scrapping the road tolls, petty traders, hawkers and food vendors are unhappy about the abolishment which according to them would collapse their businesses and make life uncomfortable for them.
Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta, announced the abolishment of tolls on roads and bridges in the 2022 budget he presented to Parliament on Wednesday, November 18. Subsequently, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, in a press release signed by Kwasi Amoako-Attah, the sector Minister ordered the stopping of the collection of road tolls in the country, effective November 19. Speaking in an interview with Sky News in Sunyani, Frederick Ampem-Kesse, 37, a taxi driver said the abolishment was in the right direction saying it would greatly minimize vehicular traffic congestion around the booths on the highways.
Mr Kwaku Antwi, 49, a bus driver said he was also thankful to the government as well saying the cessation of the payment of road tolls had brought great relief to commercial drivers. However, Madam Mary Amankwaa, a food vendor regretted the decision would collapse businesses around the booths and render toll collectors jobless as well.“What happens to these toll collectors. They are going to lose their jobs and make life uncomfortable for them and their families”, she said.
Source: Will Agyapong/Skynewsroom