captured that Toll collection

will be Zero - rated after the approval of the budget by Parliament, unfortunately, before the approval by Parliament, the Hon. Minister for Roads and Highways Akwasi Amoako Attah,acting on misinformation, ordered the cessation of Toll collection the very mid night the budget was read. The justification for his actions plus its negative effects on the economy of Ghana is a subject for discussion on another day.

Again, in the budget statement, it was spelt out that, no toll worker including coordinators, supervisors, collectors (C.S.P.), security and cleaners will lose their jobs, that the workers will be given alternate livelihoods (reassigned). It is however sad to note that, almost six months after this promise was made by the Government, none of the over 800 workers have been given any form of employment.

It was also stated that Toll workers will be paid a monthly allowance until they are reassigned. But unfortunately, the Government has not fulfilled its statement. Since November 18th 2021 when the cessation of toll collection took effect till date, the workers have only received November, 2021 and December, 2021 salaries contrary to the budget statement made; which is to pay the workers a monthly allowance till reassignment. Further breach of the Governments promise is aletter of notification for termination of employment that has been served the workers by Tolls and Routes Management LTD (TRML), the company managing about 20 of the major Tolls in Ghana since year 2019 till its abrupt cessation on the 18th of November 2021.

The inability of the Government to fulfill its financial obligation to the Toll Workers coupled with its challenge to find alternate livelihood for the workers has brought untold hardship to them. It is therefore not surprising that some of the workers are harboring suicidal thoughts as expressed by one of the workers in a documentary put together by Citi TV which focused on the plight of the Toll workers after the abrupt termination of their employment. Some have also been evicted from their homes because of non-payment of rent amongst others

We understand that the world economy is going through some tough times and Ghana is not exempted. We also know that the economy of a country is run mostly on the revenue it is able to generate internally.

It is therefore unimaginable that a tried and tested way of raising revenue, with all the infrastructure already in place could be scrapped, for reasons that can be solved with very simple measures, and render over 800 Ghanaian workers jobless.

It is also ironic that Ghanaian drivers who enter the territories of our neighboring Countries pay huge Toll Fares whereas theircounterparts who enter Ghana pay nothing.

The Ghana Toll Workers Group therefore call on the Government of Ghana to fulfill the promises of reassignment and payment of salaries, or should repair the damage roads in and around the toll plazas, increase the number of toll gates at the plazas to ensure the free flow of traffic and re-introduce Toll collection so that all the workers can go back to work and contribute to the development of our dear Country, or the Government should compensate all the workers in a proper manner before officially disengaging them.

Thank you

Cc: ALL MEDIA HOUSES

CITY NEWS DOCUMENTARY LINK;http://youtu.be/fHK8-mBhZUI