Ghana‘s roads are on the verge of a significant shift as the government reintroduces road and bridge tolls—this time with a technology-driven approach designed to boost efficiency and revenue collection. While officials present it as a sustainable funding solution, the move revives a familiar debate: Will it ease congestion or simply create a thriving marketplace for roadside hawkers?
The Ministry of Roads and Highways, in a statement dated February 6, 2025, assured the public that the new tolling system would be modern, transparent, and efficient.
“To achieve this objective, the Ministry will employ an open, transparent, competitive, cost-effective, and fair procurement process,” the statement noted.
The government’s focus on technology-based toll collection aims to eliminate inefficiencies, plug revenue leaks, and ease the burden of manual tolling. However, the big question remains: Will this new system truly reduce gridlock, or will it revive long-standing traffic woes at toll booths?
A Silver Lining for Hawkers?
While motorists brace for potentially longer commute times, street vendors and hawkers see a lucrative opportunity. Traffic congestion has historically created prime business hotspots, where traders sell everything from snacks to phone accessories. For many, the return of toll booths signals a revival of roadside commerce.
With Ghana’s informal economy contributing significantly to employment, hawkers who lost sales after the abolition of tolls in 2022 may finally regain their foothold. However, whether the new system will create sustained hawker-friendly zones or push for strict traffic regulations remains to be seen.
As Ghana navigates the balance between revenue generation and efficient traffic management, industry stakeholders will be keenly watching how effectively the technology-driven tolling system is implemented.
Will electronic tolling reduce bottlenecks, or will drivers face the same old frustrations? Can vendors safely operate around toll areas, or will law enforcement clamp down on informal trade? Will the revenue truly enhance road infrastructure, or will leakages persist?
One thing is certain: where there is traffic, there is business—and Ghana’s streets are about to get a lot more interesting.
