By Darroll Allan Tagoe
The suspension of road tolls in Ghana had a significant economic impact, particularly on persons living with disabilities who were employed to collect tolls and also on the informal economy around toll booths.
Following the announcement by the Finance Minister that the collection will resume in 2025, GTV Breakfast Show’s Darroll Allan Tagoe and the “Keep an Eye” team visited the Kasoa toll booth on Thursday to speak with commuters and vendors about the effects of the suspension on their livelihoods, their survival strategies, and their views on the proposed reintroduction of the toll collection.
The team gathered that some vendors selling food items, disposable goods, and money changers who operated around the toll booths have all experienced a sharp decline in their incomes. Some of the traders say they lost their capital, and others were forced to relocate back to their villages due to their inability to pay rent.
One vendor, who sells snacks at the Kasoa toll booth, shared her struggles: “Since the toll collection stopped, my sales have dropped drastically. I had to use my savings to survive, but now those are gone too. I welcome the government’s plan to bring back the tolls because it will help my business to recover.”
Another vendor lamented, “I’ve lost almost everything. The suspension of tolls took away my main source of income. I couldn’t keep up with rent and had to move back to my village. It’s been tough.”
The proposed reintroduction of toll collection has sparked mixed reactions. While some asked for assurances that the tolls would be used efficiently, concerns were also raised about the road safety implications of having traders on the shoulders of the roads. Commuters were divided on the reintroduction of toll collection. Some welcomed the potential return of the toll booths, citing the importance of the revenue for government projects and the livelihoods of the vendors.
“Reintroducing the tolls will generate revenue for the government and help the traders who rely on them for their income,” said one commuter.
However, others were concerned about the traffic congestion that toll booths create. “The toll booths cause a lot of traffic. It’s frustrating and time-consuming. I prefer them staying suspended,” remarked another commuter. The Kasoa toll booth, a once-bustling hub of economic activity, now has fewer vendors, and there is a noticeable decline in informal trading there.
The livelihoods of persons with disabilities who were employed as toll collectors have also been adversely affected, losing not just their jobs but a vital source of empowerment and financial independence. As the public awaits the government’s final decision on what strategy or form will be deployed for the resumption of toll collection, the voices from the Kasoa toll booth highlight the need for a balanced approach that offers the most benefit for all parties.
