By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Parliament of Ghana has granted approval for a 20-year concession contract to revive road and bridge tolls nationwide. The agreement, structured under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), framework allows the state to partner with Rock Africa Limited to build and operate a barrier-free, multi-lane free-flow tolling network using an advanced electronic system.
This decision officially reverses the 2021 suspension of toll collection. The resolution received strong bipartisan support from both sides of the aisle. MPs agreed that an automated, leak-proof collection network is the most viable path to addressing Ghana’s road deficit without overburdening the national budget. Lawmakers noted, suspension of the hitherto manual tolling system heavily starved the road sector of vital maintenance funds.
Under the terms approved by the House, the Government of Ghana will claim a dominant 70% share of all gross toll revenues.
The private partner, Rock Africa Limited, will receive the remaining 30% to cover its operational expenditures and capital investments.
The contract spans two decades. The first three years are dedicated to design, engineering, and installation, followed by 17 years of active operation. At the end of the 20-year cycle, all infrastructure will be handed back to the state in excellent working condition.
To address past public complaints regarding heavy traffic gridlock at manual booths, the Ministry of Roads and Highways confirmed the new infrastructure will rely entirely on digital, free-flow technology.
The network covers 13 transport corridors, retrofitting 38 old toll booths and adding 28 brand-new locations. The system will read vehicle data automatically, linking payments to mobile money (MoMo) wallets, bank accounts, or Ghana Cards.
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr. Kwame Governs Agbodza, assured the public that tolls will strictly apply to completed, high-quality roads.
The Ministry of Roads and Highways will publish the specific tariff structures and rollout schedules in the coming months.
