A sizeable proportion of motorists, including parliamentarians, ministers, police personnel and assemblymen do not pay road and bridge tolls, resulting in a huge loss of revenue to the state. When these people get to toll booths, they only announce their status and ask to be allowed to pass without paying the toll, George Aidoo, Director of the Road Fund, told the Times in an interview on Tuesday. He said only vehicles belonging to the Armed Forces, Fire Service, Prisons Service, hospitals, Ghana Red Cross, and diplomatic mission are exempted from paying tolls and added that the penalty for evading payment of tolls is hundred times the specified or legalised fee. He said when the new Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) mechanism under which tolls would be paid electronically becomes operational next year, it would be very difficult for anyone to evade payment of tolls. Mr Aidoo explained that with the ETC, a registered vehicle would be fixed with transponder which would communicate with a computer at the toll booth which vehicle to be allowed to drive through unhindered as it approaches the toll booth. "A vehicle owner's account is always debited, and if you don't have an account, it would not allow your vehicle to drive through, unless you get down and make payment manually," he said. Mr Aidoo noted that the ETC was cost-effective and an efficient means of implementing traffic surveillance, because digital car licence plate recognition devices, could accurately and efficiently identify toll violators. Mr Aidoo, said the automated toll collections also reduced environmentally harmful emissions at toll plazas, saves fuel, reduces waiting time, and mobile emissions. Above all, he said it provides better audit control by centralised user accounts, thereby maximising revenue. Mr Aidoo was reacting to an assurance given by Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Highways, recently that, the Ministry would automate road and bridge tolls in the country, to cut down on revenue loss, and increase revenue for the road fund. The road fund is used for financing routine and periodic maintenance works, as well as selected road safety activities. Mr Aidoo said, there were currently, 29 toll booths in the country, which generated an average GH¢ 1,622,200 annually. He said more toll booths would be constructed, especially on newly constructed highways, to b90st n venue in flow. Mr Aidoo gave the assurance, however, that, there are no envisaged increases in tolls, now. He said the current rates being paid since 1999, are very low and a draft bill had been sent to cabinet through ,the Finance Ministry• for the tolls• to be reviewed upwards. Source: Times