Mandatory towing levy clear thievery – Mornah

The National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC) Bernard Mornah has described as “thievery” a move by government to introduce a mandatory towing levy.

Parliamentary select committee on Roads and Transport okayed the payment of the implementation of the policy Wednesday despite the stern public backlash. The committee said having perused the details of the proposal presented by the national road safety commission and the transport ministry, it is of the view that the initiative will be good for the country considering the spate of accidents.

Mr Mornah, however, disagreed, labelling the decision as “sickening".

According to him, the government’s insistence on the introduction of the policy is clear indication of attempts to rob “citizens to satisfy an individual.”

“That’s what all this is about and anybody can think through,” he told host of Morning Starr Francis Abban Friday, August 4, 2017.

He added, “Honestly speaking, this is one of the sad things that you can see a government pushing to get done when it is clear that ‘Masa, Sika die Asem Naaba.’ I can’t think far.

“It is an unnecessary levy. It is more than nuisance levy. It is an attack on the collective intelligence of the people of Ghana. It is an assault on us by the state to come and take from us and go and give it to some individuals.

“Please, we cannot use the cohesive hands of the state to force citizens to do something that everybody has seen that…it is a robbery. Mr President, listen to the voice of the people that this thievery…the people of Ghana we have seen before it can even start, so stop.”

Fees per year for both commercial and non-commercial vehicles, depending on tonnage, range from GH¢20 to GH¢200. The program was suspended by the government in June after massive public opposition.