Government scraps tow levy

Government has canceled the mandatory towing levy after a section of Ghanaians strongly opposed its implementation.

The policy would have imposed a mandatory fee on all vehicle owners in the country.

This was to help a towing company tow broken down vehicles from the roads across the country to help ensure traffic safety and reduce accidents.

A statement from the Transport Ministry announcing the cancellation of the contract said: “The government has decided not to implement the mandatory towing levy which was scheduled to have commenced on 1 July 2017.

“This follows extensive consultation between the Minister of Transport and stakeholders in the transport sector”.

The statement signed by Transport Minister Kwaku Ofori Asiamah noted that: “Upon consultations consequent to the calls, government has decided to seek a review of parts of the laws specifically to achieve the following objective: Removal from the law, the concept of a mandatory towing levy on all owners and persons in charge of motor vehicles and trailers.”

In 2012, parliament passed the Legislative Instrument 2180 [ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS, 2012]which in regulation 102 [3] imposes a mandatory levy on all owners and persons in charge of motor vehicles, for the purpose of towing broken down or disabled vehicles on Ghana’s roads.