The Ghana Toll Workers Union has raised concerns about the government’s failure to create alternative employment opportunities for its members prior to the end of toll collection.
The Union asserts that the government’s failure to re-engage the workers immediately after toll collection was halted has impaired their livelihood.
In an interview with Accra-based television, Citi TV, on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, the Union’s Secretary Mr. Edward Duncan, urged the government to find a cooperative solution to the problem of the unemployed toll workers.
“If the Minister tells us that they are developing modules, couldn’t they have developed the modules before closing down the toll booths so that as soon as they shut them down, they can absorb the toll collectors. The government owes us by their promise, so the government should do the right thing and settle this matter once and for all,” he said.
According to a statement by government, all former attendants at shuttered toll collection points were paid in full for the duration of their contract.
Months after the government abolished road toll collection in the country with the promise of re-assigning affected workers, many of them remain unemployed.
In response to questions in Parliament, Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wireko-Brobbey stated that, while these workers do not currently have jobs, their salaries have been paid in full.
“At the time of the suspension of toll collection, a total of 784 toll workers were engaged by the Ghana Highway Authority under a contract set to expire in December 2021. Out of the 784 contract workers, 517 of them were employed by the toll and route management limited, while 214 were employed by the Ghana Highway Authority,” the deputy Minister said.
“As part of measures to cushion the affected workers, the government paid their salaries for the remaining time of their contract; that is November and December 2021,” he added.
The toll collectors were laid off after the government issued a directive in November 2021 to halt the collection of tolls on roads and bridges in the country.
