Road tolls fetch Ghc49m

The Ministry of Roads and Highways last year generated an amount of Ghc49.06 million from 35 toll stations and a ferry station at Ada.

The Ministry, as at the end of June 2014, had collected Ghc27.8 million at 38 stations, including the Ada and Senchi Ferry stations.

Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, Minister of Roads and Transport, who made this known at a the meet-the-press encounter in Accra yesterday, said specialized prepaid toll stickers for one month, three months and one-year were being sold for use on specific roads.

Alhaji Fuseini said specialized toll stickers were also being issued upon the request of motorists, adding that plans were underway to produce E- cards for sale to motorists.

He said the Ministry had commenced the preparatory arrangement (PPP) model for the financing, construction and management of road infrastructure.

Alhaji Fuseini said Accra-Takoradi road, Accra-Kumasi (dualization) road, Accra-Tema motorway were currently being considered for the PPP project.

He said the PPP arrangement for the financing, design and construction of an overpass on the motorway ai Teshie Link was on-going, stating the preliminary designs had been completed.

Alhaji Fuseini said the project is expected to be completed in 24 months after the completion of negotiations on the financial arrangement.

He revealed that the China Development Bank would commit about $234 million to complete the La beach road (Accra-Tema) project and the Accra Intelligent Management Traffic System.

The Minister said the contract had been signed and the Ministry of Finance was awaiting the approval of the subsidiary agreement by the CDB.

He said, "Financing of both maintenance and development activities remains a challenge to the sector considering the fact that there is an inadequate fund to meet all road maintenance needs, and several development projects have stalled due to inadequate matching funds or unavailable funds for the sector's activities."

In order to sustain a desirable funding base for the sector's activities, Alhaji Fuseini said the sector would pursue various programmes, including PPP initiatives for road infrastructure development, negotiate for an increase in sector revenue component of the fuel levy and apply user-charg­ing principles to road users.