The Government of Ghana has allocated GH¢2.81 billion for road maintenance, a 155.5% increase from the previous year, and plans to reintroduce road tolls using technology to boost revenue and address substantial sector debts.
The Government of Ghana has designated GH¢2.81 billion for the maintenance of roads across the nation. This figure marks a significant increase of 155.5 percent compared to the GH¢1.1 billion allocated for the sector in 2024. Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, announced this allocation during the presentation of the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament.
Additionally, Dr. Forson revealed that the road fund will be uncapped to secure more funding for the road sector. He reiterated plans to reintroduce road tolls utilizing advanced technology to enhance revenue collection and support infrastructure. This initiative follows the previous administration’s suspension of toll collection in 2022, which, according to Dr. Forson, has exacerbated the challenges within the road sector.
The Minister highlighted that the suspension of tolls has negatively impacted the government’s capacity to generate necessary revenue for road construction and maintenance. Despite growing demands for road infrastructure improvement, the sector faces considerable debts totaling approximately GH¢100 billion, alongside GH¢5.75 billion owed by the road fund as of late 2024. Dr. Forson emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating that the current zero-rate policy on tolls has hindered revenue generation for maintaining roads.
To address these issues, the government aims to collaborate with stakeholders, including the private sector, to implement a technology-driven solution for reintroducing road tolls in 2025 as part of the Big Push Programme.
The Ghanaian government has significantly increased its allocation for road maintenance to GH¢2.81 billion, addressing ongoing infrastructure needs. Plans to reintroduce road tolls with innovative technology are set to enhance revenue generation for road maintenance. Addressing the substantial debts in the road sector remains a critical challenge, necessitating cooperation with various stakeholders moving forward.
Original Source: www.ghanabusinessnews.com
