By: Roberta Gayode Modin
Chief Executive Officer of the Consumer Protection Agency, Kofi Owusu Hene popularly known as Kofi Kapito has advocated for a reasonable increase in the proposed road tolls to the Parliament of Ghana.
He argued that the proposed amounts are not sufficient to generate adequate revenue for the construction of roads and infrastructure development.
“I get annoyed when I hear Ghanaians travel abroad and say the white man has done well for their country. It was because of taxes. I get offended when I drive my 4×4 car from Accra to Kumasi and I pay GH¢3. It is an insult and I expect better roads, It won’t happen”, he said.
He made this statement in the wake of the reintroduction of road tolls after it was terminated by the Ministry of Roads and Highways in November 2021.
Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show, Mr. Kapito stated that the collection of tolls for developmental works has worked in western countries. However, Ghanaians are reluctant to contribute their quota due to the government’s inability to account for the revenue collected.
“The funny thing is that because the government doesn’t show credibility when they collect the tolls, that’s why people are a little bit upset. But what you are paying, you cannot even construct 1km of road with that kind of money”, he said.
He called for the government to adopt an automated system in the collection of road tolls to eliminate thievery and ease traffic congestion at the toll collection points.
“If you want good things, sometimes you have to pay for it”, he tells Ghanaian.