Towing levy 'smells badly' - Nduom

Flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has heavily criticized government’s decision to approve the mandatory towing levies as proposed by the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC).

This follows the passage of a Legislative Instrument (LI) on the road tow levy by Parliament’s Road and Transport Committee.

According to Dr. Nduom, the law only allows for towing of vehicles wrongfully parked on the country’s roads as per section 21 of the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683) and Regulation 102 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180), he therefore does not relate to government’s assumption that all Ghanaians will engage in wrongful or illegal parking and hence the decision to make the levy mandatory for all vehicle owners every year.

He alleged that the move was geared towards extorting monies from the pockets of drivers and channeling it to some unknown government officials.

“This smells badly. Chop chop for whom? At whose expense?”

Dr. Nduom urged government and all stakeholder to follow due process by charging towing fees from persons who fall foul to the road regulations as stipulated by the laws rather than retrieving monies from all vehicle owners. He also urged drivers to protest the policy till the desired results are achieved.

“Let those who flout the law pay and leave the rest alone, join the fight against the mandatory towing levy".

The NRSC announced in May, their intent to implement the compulsory mandate on July first as a means of ridding the country’s roads of broken down vehicles that are abandoned and which can cause accidents. Following massive opposition from sections of the public and some politicians, the policy was brought before Parliament’s Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament.

After months of deliberation, the committee approved the implementation of the fees and produced a report to that effect.

The Ghana Committed Drivers Association (GCDA) has served notice of a nationwide demonstration to push for the repeal of the recently passed mandatory towing levy after Parliament’s approval. The Institute for Liberty & Policy Innovation (ILAPI-Ghana) has also urged government to follow the appropriate process in implementing the levy.

Below is the entire statement from the camp of Dr. Nduom

Democratization of Indiscipline on our Roads?

Existing law allow government to tow vehicles wrongfully parked on our roads and charge a fee accordingly.

So why assume that we will all engage in illegal parking and require towing and as a result make it mandatory for all vehicle owners to pay a road towing fee every year?

This smells badly. Chop chop for whom? At whose expense?

Let those who flout the law pay and leave the rest alone.

Join the fight against the mandatory towing levy.