Senchi ferry tolls to be reviewed
The government is considering reviewing the tolls being paid by motorists boarding the ferries at the Senchi and Akrade landing sites following the closure of the Adomi Bridge for major rehabilitation.
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This follows complaints by motorists and passengers of unnecessary delays and what the motorists describe as "high" tolls charged on their vehicles.
The Director of Public Affairs at the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA), Mr Norbert B. Quamor, who disclosed this to journalists at the Senchi landing site last Friday, but he could not tell when the review would take effect.
He said the government was considering absorbing the cost of replacement which would result in a downward review of tolls being charged.
Tolls charged
Currently, motorists pay between GH¢1.00 and GH¢85. 00 for motorbikes and low loader with dozer D9 respectively. Other charges include GH¢10.00 for saloon cars and tricycles; GHA GH¢10. 00 for 4x4, pickups and mini-buses; GH¢15. 00 for light buses, 33-seater buses and KIA trucks while the VIP and Metro Mass Transit buses, as well as 26-axle tipper trucks pay GH¢20. 00.
However, ambulances, diplomatic, the security services, fire service vehicles, Red Cross, and Red Crescent vehicles are exempted because they enjoy the same privileges pertaining to road tolls.
Ferries
The GHA operates two ferries, each loading at the same time at either end of the landing site. The 300-tonne capacity vessel conveys an average of 16 vehicles and over 100 passengers at a time and takes less than eight minutes from one landing site to the other.
Mr Quarmor said since the introduction of the ferry operations on Monday, March 10, 2014, there had been concerns from both motorists and the travelling public, especially over the tolls paid.
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He said the visit was, therefore, to enable the GHA to put in place the necessary reviews aimed at improving the operations of the ferries.
Traders on board
On the activities of the traders in the ferry, Mr Quarmor said it was possible that those who entered the ferry purely to do business could be charged 'a small fee'.
On the complaints of high tolls by motorists, he said it was not possible for the drivers to compare the bridge tolls they used to pay with the tolls for the ferry, stressing that the two were different since maintenance works, servicing and repair works for the bridge and the ferry could not be the same.