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The government has put the implementation of the National Roads Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1118) on hold to allow for further consultations, the Ministry of Roads and Highways has announced.
In a statement issued on Friday, February 7, 2025, the ministry cited concerns raised by various stakeholders regarding the restructuring of road management agencies as the basis for the decision.
The National Roads Authority Act, passed by Parliament in July 2024, sought to merge the Ghana Highway Authority, the Department of Urban Roads, and the Department of Feeder Roads into a single entity. The move was intended to enhance coordination and efficiency in road management.
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The suspension of the Act comes at a time when the government is pushing forward with plans to reintroduce road and bridge tolls to generate revenue for road maintenance and infrastructure development.
In a separate statement issued on Thursday, the ministry revealed that the new tolling system would be technology-driven to enhance efficiency and transparency.
During his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 20, Roads and Highways Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza confirmed the return of road tolls but clarified that they would be collected without the use of physical toll booths.
“The road toll is coming back, but not in the form of building obstructions on the road,” Agbodza stated. He further argued that the previous administration’s suspension of toll collection was unlawful.
Alhaji Abu Gomda, a former deputy minister of roads and highways, defended the previous government’s decision to suspend toll collection, stating that it was necessary at the time to ease traffic congestion. However, he emphasised that the reintroduction of tolls must address inefficiencies experienced in the past.
The Ministry of Roads and Highways has assured the public that the procurement process for the new toll collection system will be transparent and competitive to ensure value for money and efficiency in road revenue generation.
