Roads Ministry, University of Ghana to meet over tolling of Legon roads
A decision whether to toll roads on the campus of the University of Ghana or not will be taken after a crucial meeting scheduled between the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the university officials at a date yet to be fixed.
The meeting between the ministry, to be led by the Minister, Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemani, and academia has become necessary following the university’s announcement that it would begin the tolling of some rehabilitated roads on the campus.
The university funded the cost of rehabilitation.
The tolling of the new roads is expected to take effect from February 14, but the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the university has expressed reservations about the tolling, which its President, Mr Eric Edem Agbana, described as exorbitant.
The Ministry of Roads and Highways had indicated that it was considering absorbing the cost of rehabilitation on some university campuses, including the University of Ghana, in its 2014 budget.
When contacted on whether the absorption of the cost of rehabilitation of the roads by the ministry would reverse the university’s decision to collect tolls on the roads, Alhaji Sulemani said that decision would only be clear after the meeting with the university officials.
He described the rehabilitation of campus roads as laudable, since the roads facilitated and supported academic work.
He, however, stated that the introduction of tolls on those roads could create inconvenience for some of the regular road users, hence the government’s intervention.
Alhaji Sulemani said the ministry would ensure that roads on the campuses of major institutions were maintained at reasonable standards throughout the country.
User charges
The university has announced that with effect from February 1, 2014, all vehicles entering the main Legon campus and those using the road passing through the Staff Village will be required to pay a user charge.
Private vehicles will pay GH¢1 per entry, while taxis and other small commercial passenger vehicles will be required to pay GH¢2 per entry. Large trucks delivering goods or passing through the campus will pay GH¢3 per entry.
The university authorities said arrangements were being made for private road users to make one-time payments of GH¢400 per year, GH¢250 for six months and GH¢150 for three months.
Exemption
The university authorities said only employees of the institution and their dependants using vehicles issued with the university’s stickers would be exempted from paying the charges.
Writer’s email: naa.bentil@graphic.com.gh
