Vendors operating near the Fiapre and Bechem tollbooths in Ghana’s Bono and Ahafo Regions have supported the government’s announcement to reinstate tolls by 2025, anticipating positive impacts on their businesses.
The decision to shut down tollbooths nationwide in 2021 led to severe job losses among vendors who relied on these locations for their livelihoods, particularly at the Bechem tollbooth in the Tano South Municipality of the Ahafo Region and the Fiapre tollbooth in the Sunyani West Municipality of the Bono Region.
Despite the closure, a resilient group of predominantly women vendors continued operating at these sites, selling essential goods such as bread and fried yams to sustain themselves and their families.
These vendors have met the impending reintroduction of tolls with optimism. They view it as a potential catalyst for revitalizing their businesses and restoring lost livelihoods.
In response to the government’s plan, some residents of the Bono Region have advocated for adopting technology-driven toll-collection systems nationwide. They argue that modernizing the toll collection process will curb revenue losses associated with the previous manual system, ensuring more efficient collection and allocation of funds for infrastructure development.
The government’s move to reinstate tolls reflects ongoing efforts to enhance economic opportunities and infrastructure development across Ghana’s regions.
