The Minister of Roads and Highways, Joe Gidisu, has said that an electronic payment card would soon be introduced into the system for motorists who ply the Tema Motorway on daily basis.
According to him, the new electronic cards are being introduced on a pilot basis to test how effective it would be.
�If you ply the motorway every day we will give you our new electronic card which we are introducing to test how effective it is going to be,� he stated.
He said this would enable the regular users of the road to pay in advance in order to avoid the daily pressure of paying tolls.
Speaking to Peace FM on "Kokrokoo", he said when the cards are introduced, motorist could purchase the cards on monthly, quarterly, annually and bi-annual basis, depending on their regular usage of the motorway.
However, he told Peace FM that the prices had to be received before the introduction of the cards due to the introduction of the electronic system. �This is a system that is based on the electronic system that we are introducing. This is a process where we have to test iits efficiency before exposing it to the general public,� he said, adding that �We are equally very cautious in its implementation in order not to jam the situation."
He added that the operation will soon be moving to the Kasoa end for the tolls to be automated, after which other busy roads like Adomi and Sogakope would be attended to. �We are only trying to be very cautious,� he told Kwami Sefa Kayi, host of "Kokrokoo".
Meanwhile, Hon. Gidisu says the rehabilitation of the Tema Motorway will start soon, to fill the potholes and put the road in good shape.
He disclosed to Peace FM that almost GH�20m has been allocated for the rehabilitation.
Government, in particular the Roads and Highways Ministry received a lot of bashing and criticisms from motorists for the increase in tolls which took effect yesterday.
But Hon Gidisu justified that the increment was necessary.
�The Road Fund which has its revenue base from the toll and rates that Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) charges, have not seen any revision since January 1999, he said.
Hence, there was a need to review it to meet the economic challenges.
He advised that instead of motorists driving up and down empty 8 times a day, there was the need for schedules to be rearranged for drives to make 3 or 4 trips effectively during the day to reduce their toll payment. These are very simple techniques that we need to inject into some of our business in the country�, he emphasized.
He also advised motorists to collaborate with the Ministry, to ensure effective implementation. �People brought up 50 cedi notes just to frustrate the system for paying 50Gp, and this contributed to the hold up at the end of the motorway,� he revealed. He assured drivers and motorists that they will have value for the money they are being asked to pay.
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