Alarm Blows! -784 Ghana Toll Workers Lost Their Jobs; Data From Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations Exposes Finance Ministry
A total of 784 Ghana toll workers lost their jobs in the wake of the suspension of road tolls by the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater 
Data released by the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr. Bright Wireko-Brobby that a total of 784 Ghana toll workers lost their jobs in the wake of the suspension of road tolls by the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has exposed earlier claims made by Deputy Finance Minister Dr.John Ampontuah Kumah no toll collector has lost their job during the radical shake-up.
Dr. Kumah who doubles as the current Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejisu Constituency in the Ashanti Region announced to the general public that no road toll collector is going to lose his or her job during the suspension of the collection of the road toll in the country by the government.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, December 18, 2021, Dr. John Kumah
disclosed that those assigned to various toll booths will be reassigned adding that the reassignment of the workers would be done by the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA).
“It was part of the announcement. So nobody is going to lose their job,” he said.
Many people have questioned the employment status of road toll collectors after the government scrapped road tolls.
The substantive Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta disclosed this during the 2022 budget presentation on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday.
“Government has abolished all tolls on public roads and bridges. This takes effect immediately after the Budget is approved,” Ken Ofori-Atta said while reading the 2022 budget to Parliament.
Despite this caveat, journalists have sighted a letter signed by Roads and Highways Minister Kwasi Amoako-Attah directing that it be implemented by midnight of Thursday, November 18, 2021.
“Following the presentation of the 2022 Budget by the Minister of Finance on behalf of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, the Ministry of Roads and Highways hereby directs the cessation of the collection of road and bridge tolls at all locations nationwide.
“This directive takes effect from midnight on Thursday, November 18, 2021,” part of the letter read.
It continued, “The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service will be on hand to provide security at the Toll locations from the effective date.
Motorists are kindly advised to approach the locations with caution and observe all safety measures that will be put in place.”
But on the floor of Parliament, Friday, June 24, 2022, Mr. Bright Wireko- Bobby who doubles as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Hemang Lower Denkyira Constituency in the Central Region stated that at the time of the suspension of toll collection a total of 784 workers lost their jobs.
He added that out of which 517 worked under the toll route management Limited and 217 were engaged by the Ghana highway authority.
As part of measures to cushion the affected workers, the government paid their salaries for the remaining time of their contracts that is November and December 2021.
He indicated that their contract was set to expire in December 2021.
It would be recalled that on 11 May 2022 Ghana toll workers group, has hinted at picketing at the Ministry of Roads and Highways over their unpaid by the government.
