A fierce debate has erupted over the future of Ghana’s road tolling system, with stakeholders divided between a return to manual or semi-manual toll collection and a full embrace of digital tolling. At the center of this controversy is African Industrial Solutions, a company reportedly linked to Roland Agambire, which is aggressively lobbying for a concession agreement initiated during the NPP administration to be approved. As the government pushes for a fully digital tolling system to enhance efficiency, transparency, and revenue collection, industry experts are urging the Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwame Governs Agbodza, to ensure an open and competitive process that allows for multiple technological solutions to be considered.
Calls for a Competitive Selection Process
Experts argue that, given Agambire’s past dealings with government projects, the Minister would be wise to stand by his commitment to an open and transparent selection process. During his recent tour of the Greater Accra Region, Hon. Agbodza reiterated the need to open up the process to receive and evaluate multiple proposals before making any final decision.
“The Minister must ensure that the country gets this right,” said one industry analyst. “A rushed concession agreement, especially one inherited from a previous administration, could lead to long-term inefficiencies and financial losses for the state.”
Minister Agbodza’s Push for Digital Tolling
Hon. Agbodza has made it clear that Ghana must move forward with a fully digital toll collection system, rejecting any attempts to reintroduce inefficient manual tolling models scrapped by the previous administration. Speaking during his vetting in Parliament, he stressed that digitization would:
- Eliminate revenue leakages
- Reduce traffic congestion
- Curb corruption
- Ensure transparent accounting of toll revenues
Despite this push for modernization, Agambire’s African Industrial Solutions is reportedly proposing a model that includes manual or semi-manual toll collection, raising concerns among policy analysts. Many believe this approach would be a major setback for Ghana’s infrastructure financing efforts.
Concerns Over African Industrial Solutions’ Proposal
Sources indicate that African Industrial Solutions is facing resistance from government officials and transport sector stakeholders over its proposed tolling model. The dispute reportedly stems from concerns that the company’s proposal does not align with the government’s digital agenda for road infrastructure financing.
Policy experts are calling on the Minister to open up the procurement process, allowing multiple firms to submit proposals for a fair and transparent review before any final decisions are made. There is also growing concern that the proposal under review was rushed through the process before the 2024 elections, prompting calls for a fresh and competitive bidding process.
Industry Experts Back Minister’s Open Approach
Government officials argue that Ghana cannot afford to return to a cash-based, manual toll collection system, which has been plagued by inefficiencies and corruption in the past.
Critics of Agambire’s proposal warn that manual tolling would be a step backward for Ghana’s infrastructure development, highlighting issues such as:
- Revenue Leakages & Corruption: Cash-based systems create opportunities for misappropriation, reducing funds available for road maintenance.
- Traffic Congestion: Manual toll booths slow down vehicular movement, increasing travel times and fuel consumption.
- Lack of Transparency: The absence of real-time tracking makes it difficult to monitor and audit revenue collection accurately.
A fully digital tolling system offers:
Faster, more efficient toll collection
Transparency and real-time monitoring
Reduced corruption and revenue loss
Way Forward: A Digital-First Approach
Industry experts are calling for the termination of the ongoing contractual discussions with African Industrial Solutions to allow for an open and competitive bidding process.
Christopher Dadson, an industry analyst, emphasized:
“The National Roads Authority must ensure that the selection process is transparent and competitive. Private sector participation is important, but it must align with Ghana’s vision for efficiency, accountability, and modernization.”
Dadson further warned that the government must not allow cronyism to dictate the future of road tolling in Ghana, stating:
“The time for full-scale digital tolling is now. Any agreement that does not support this vision must be reconsidered in the best interest of Ghana’s long-term economic development.”
With growing public scrutiny over the tolling process, all eyes are on Minister Agbodza to uphold his commitment to transparency and ensure that Ghana’s road financing model is future-proof, fair, and effic.
