Audio By Carbonatix
Seven private operators engaged by the government to collect tolls on some of the country's roads and bridges, owe the Ghana Road Fund (GRF), GH¢833,631.04 according to the Auditor-General's Report on a special audit carried out on the tollbooths, between January 2008 and June 2010.
The report said though the GRF had referred the matter to the Attorney-General's office for prosecution no action has been taken on it yet.
The road toll collection was privatised in 2005 but in 2008, the Road Find Board phased out the role of private operators and handed over the collection to the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) in September 2009.
The report, as published on the website of the Ghana Audit Service, expressed worry that the inability to retrieve the moneys from the defaulters had deprived the GRF the needed resources to carry out its mandate of maintaining the country's road network.
The report has, therefore, urged the GRF “to send a reminder to the AG's office seeking an update of the status of the legal action on the case.”
It said all legitimate avenues should be explored to ensure that the amount is retrieved from these private operators.”
The defaulters are Oti Yeboah, Kumasi-Sunyani road, GH¢142,760.56; Seidu Mahama, Kumasi-Mampong road, GH¢ 1 06,650.00; Sedan Ventures, Accra-Tema motorway, GH¢24,550; Bet Buttco Ltd., Accra-Tema motorway, GH¢5,442.89; Kapplan, Sunyani-Dormaa GH¢42,323.25; Tropic Oil, Kumasi-Mampong, GH¢27,200.00 and Lakayama Ltd., Kumasi-Sunyani, GH¢14,532.45.
Others are VAG, Tema-Akosombo, GH¢46,597.87; Sedan Venture, Ashaiman motorway, GH¢8,750.00; McGoerge Ent. Kumasi-Mampong (Aboaso) GH¢32,039.46; McGorge Ent. Kumasi-Mampong (Kyere-faso), GH¢4,249.8; Infrast Dev. Soromaso, GH¢22,106.21; Prime Star, Sogakope bridge, GH¢73,600,00; K.D.V. Lexico, Adomi Bridge, GH¢24,250,00 and Eva Asa Ltd., Beposo Bridge, GH¢59,000.00.
The rest are Abba Building Centre, Beposo Bridge, GH¢30,000, Alolo Bro, Bambio Bridge, GH¢9,050.00; Alolo Bro, Sogakofe 2, GH¢135,000.00; Waraing Co. Ltd., Kade, GH¢18,673.75; Enterprise Ivest, Adomi 2, GH¢24,300.00, Abba Building Centre, Ankobra, GH¢ 1 ,581.00 and Top Target Co. Ltd., Dunkwa, GH¢3,100.00.
In September,1997,the GRF Act 1997 (Act536) was promulgated with the objective of providing a framework for effective management of the fund's revenue driver from international transit fee, Road Tolls and Vehicle Registration and road use fee are collected respectively by the custom division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Highway Authority and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority.
The road fund is used for routine and periodic maintenance of roads which include rehabilitation, upgrading, road safety activities and projects carried out by GHA, Department of Feeder Roads and Road Safety Commission.
But the report said “the fund does not appear to have halted the deplorable state of the road network it was intended to address as the poor road conditions are still prevailing.”
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
NDC inherited a dysfunctional local government sector – Ahmed Ibrahim
3 minutes -
Some vendors in Ellembelle reject ¢0.20 coins for business transactions
5 minutes -
Release of GH¢5m to MMDAs in 2025 is unprecedented – Local Gov’t Minister
8 minutes -
Chiefs deserve better compensation for their role in development – Local Gov’t Minister
11 minutes -
Rebel Wilson’s claims against actress are ‘malicious concoctions’, Australian court hears
12 minutes -
President Mahama warns against interference in public sector discipline
13 minutes -
OSP lacks independent prosecutorial power – Deputy Attorney-General insists
16 minutes -
Parliament Accounts Officer linked to over GH¢139k payroll irregularity
20 minutes -
Ghana’s democracy under attack; free speech sacrificed under Mahama gov’t – Bawumia
20 minutes -
‘Power is transient’ – Otumfuo warns against political interference in chieftaincy
23 minutes -
AG’s department to await Supreme Court verdict before acting on OSP cases – Srem-Sai
29 minutes -
Srem-Sai urges Ghana to learn from other jurisdictions in OSP–AG dispute
35 minutes -
Ellembelle MP refurbishes Azulenloanu clinic with roofing sheets
38 minutes -
Akonta Mining: Court gives Wontumi last chance to file his witness statement
40 minutes -
FarmMate, MoFA sign PPP agreement to boost tomato self-sufficiency
41 minutes