The Ministry of Roads and Transport has fought back criticisms that it contravened the law when it ordered for an end to road toll collection before the approval of the 2022 budget.
In a statement issued on Thursday, November 18, 2021, the Ministry also justified the decision not to charge tolls by citing alleged altercation between drivers and toll collectors shortly after the Finance Minister announced plans to scrap road tolls.
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and some Minority MPs are among critics of the decision by the Ministry to scrap the tolls, describing it as rushed and illegal.
Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East, Dr Dominic Ayine, has said the Roads Minister contravened an Act of Parliament by going ahead of the House to stop road tolls before the Appropriation Bill is passed.
However, the Roads and Highways Ministry disagrees.
“The Ministry wishes to assure that the action was taken to suspend the operationalisation of the collection of the tolls and not to suspend the law,” the Ministry said in the statement.
Presenting the 2022 budget, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, said the proposal to end the collection of tolls would take effect after the budget has been approved.
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However, shortly after the budget was presented to Parliament the Roads and Highways Minister, Kwesi Amoako-Atta, issued a statement directing that toll collection should cease after midnight of Thursday, November 18, 2021.
Parliament is yet to approve the budget.