Struggling hawkers at Bechem, Tuobodom find hope in return of road tolls

Correspondence from Frank Addo Aboagye, Bono East Region

Hawkers operating at the Bechem and Tuobodom toll booths in the Ahafo and Bono East Regions have welcomed the government’s plans to re-introduce the bridge and road tolls in 2025.

The re-introduction, which will mark the return of toll collection on Ghana’s major highways after a three-year hiatus, according to these vendors, will revive their businesses which took a nose dive following the suspension.

Hawkers who ply their trade at the once-busy toll booths on the Sunyani-Kumasi and Techiman-Tamale highways have expressed their satisfaction, citing the anticipated increase in traffic as a key factor that could boost their sales.

Speaking to GhanaWeb's correspondent in the region, Frank Addo Aboagye, the hawkers bemoaned that, since the suspension of road tolls in November 2021, many hawkers have struggled to make ends meet due to declining income as the toll booths had served as strategic points for their businesses, providing a steady stream of potential buyers.

At the Bechem toll booth, Mercy Anima, chronicled the negative impact they have had to endure for the past three years and described the return of tolls as both a blessing and relief for them since that has been their cry.

“When the tolls were cancelled, our sales dropped drastically because fewer vehicles were stopping. With the tolls back, more drivers and passengers will stop, and we can make good sales again,” she lamented.

At the Tuobodom toll booth, a similar sentiment was echoed by Cecilia Afra, a mother of four who has been selling vegetables at the location for over seven years, who noted that the toll booth has always been a hub for small-scale traders like her.

“We depend on the drivers and passengers who stop here to buy our goods. The absence of tolls made things difficult, but now we have hope that our businesses will thrive once more,” she disclosed.

Other hawkers however expressed indifference toward the decision, questioning the timing of the reintroduction suggesting it could be part of the government’s strategy to gain political favour from them.

“It feels like the government is only doing this to win votes because why now, right before the elections? It seems like part of their usual political games,” some of the hawkers questioned.

Crumbling toll booths

With the government set to reintroduce road tolls next year, there will be the need for massive renovation works on the Bechem and Tuobodom toll booths because a visit to the two locations depicted a gloomy picture.

The two once-busy structures now stand rusted, peeling paint exposing layers of decay, rusted metal edges, and windows shattered or missing.

Also, the booths, once a hub of activity are forlorn, weathered by time, and covered in cobwebs and debris as a result of three years of neglect and non-usage.

Suspension of road tolls

The government in November 2021 announced the cessation of the collection of tolls on public roads in the country prompting a varied public outcry but the government has backtracked on the decision after almost three years by reintroducing the collection of tolls.

The reintroduction of the bridge and road tolls came to light during the presentation of the 2024 mid-year fiscal policy review in Parliament on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam told parliament that the reintroduction of the tolls is part of the government’s comprehensive strategy to generate additional revenue to support the maintenance and development of the country's road network.