Reintroduction of road toll: Deploy technology that will still allow us to work – Former Road toll staf
Former road toll workers have appealed to the government to introduce a modern, technology-driven toll collection system that will still allow them to be employed under the new system.
The call comes after the Ministry of Roads and Highways announced the reintroduction of road and bridge tolls as part of efforts to generate revenue for road maintenance and other related initiatives.
In a statement dated Thursday, February 6, 2025, the Ministry assured the public of plans to implement a modern, technology-driven toll collection system to ensure efficiency and convenience.
The statement noted that further details and modalities for the new system would be communicated in due course.
“To achieve this objective, the Ministry will employ an open, transparent, competitive, cost-effective, and fair procurement process.”
The Ministry further assured the public of its commitment to introducing a modernized system that addresses the current tolling and road maintenance funding challenges in the country.
However, speaking to Daakyehene Ofosu Agyemang, host of New York-based Adinkra Radio’s Morning Show, the General Secretary of the Tollbooth Workers Association, Edward Duncan, appealed to the government to adopt a digital system that can still accommodate them as workers.
“We are excited that road and bridge tolls are going to be reintroduced. As it stands now, eight hundred of us are idle, and as the saying goes, ‘the devil finds work for idle hands.’ We know that there are various technological ways of collecting tolls. Some may still involve human presence—not necessarily to control or manage the minute-to-minute toll collection but to play a supervisory or assistance role since machines, power, and internet services will be involved.
“We are appealing to the government to adopt a system that will allow us to work. Even if we do not directly handle the collection of money, we should at least be given some roles at the toll booths to keep us employed so that we can support our families.”
Source: Adinkraradio.com
