Drivers welcome tow levy

The Spokesperson of the True Drivers Union, Yaw Barima has extolled Ghana’s parliament for approving the mandatory tow levy.

According to him, this programmme will contribute to reducing road accidents in the country, therefore, must be supported by all.

Parliament's Roads and Transport Committee approved the controversial levy which will come into operation on September 1, 2017.

According to the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Samuel Ayeh-Paye, the decision was arrived at after extensive consultations with stakeholders in the road and transport industry.

This follows the passage of a Legislative Instrument (LI) on the road tow levy.

Speaking to Class News on Tuesday, 1 August 2017, Mr. Ayeh-Paye urged the Ministry to sensitize the populace on the levy before its implementation.

“Our recommendation is that it is a very good project, we have looked at other stakeholders and in fact, they don’t have the capacity to undertake this project. …We have asked the operator as part of our recommendation to absorb other small towing trucks in the contract so that other private and small towing truck services will not be affected or have their businesses collapsed,” he stated.

Speaking on this matter in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Accra 100.5FM on Wednesday, August 2, Mr. Barima said: “We commend the government and parliament for passing this levy. This is good news because it will minimise the road accidents in Ghana.

“It will be better for drivers to pay more to safeguard their lives than not to pay any money at all and be experiencing death through road accidents.

“Just look at what happened to Kumasi Asante Kotoko, had it not been a damaged vehicle parked on the road, there wouldn’t have been any accident involving the football club.”

He added: “There are several accidents that have happened because of damaged vehicles on the roads, and, so, we strongly believe that this is a good decision that will reduce the problem, and, so, it must be supported by all.

“Our only concern is that the government must intensify the stakeholder consultation on such programmes to educate the Ghanaian public, otherwise there will be agitations against good policies of the government.”