According to him, there will be no attempt to reinvent the wheel as towing services will be provided to those who need it by recognized and registered towing companies.

[contextly_sidebar id=”6NcWvNE0n0Qnz5xyJ8dh6Sro1BfjxHYZ”]This followed the public outcry which compelled the government to scrap the proposed mandatory towing policy and accompanying levy.

“Today, we will end up asking you to go and register the services you provide. Naturally, people will have some questions and we want to listen to your concerns if any, because this policy which was supposed to start on July 1 has been stopped,” Mr. Osafo Maafo said

“There is the need to provide that service so we are asking those who have the capacity to provide the service to register through the appropriate ministry and provide the service to those who need it, and those who receive the services to pay for it.”

The police service has indicated that it will be on the lookout for broken vehicles, and the Senior Minister, assured that government will support it in this regard.

“We will ask the police to continue and if they need additional support in the interim, we are going to put in some support for them to get beefed up in terms of material so that they minimize the carnage arising out of disabled vehicles,” he said.

Background

Statistics from the Road Safety Commission revealed that broken down vehicles account for a huge number of accidents on Ghanaian roads.

Following this revelation, the government of Ghana approved a nationwide towing programme in 2012, but it was to take effect on July 2017.

Commercial vehicles and taxes were to pay GH¢40, mini buses were to pay GH¢80, while heavy duty trucks were to pay between GH¢80 and GH¢200 annually, depending on their tonnage, and have the Road Safety Management Services Limited (RSMSL) tow their vehicles anytime it breaks down on the road.

Non-commercial vehicles were expected to pay GH¢20.

But most Ghanaians kicked against the levy claiming it was a total rip-off, and that individuals must be made to pay for broken down vehicles to be towed, rather than a mandatory levy across board. Others also questioned why the contract was given to one company for the next 20 years.

Following the massive public uproar, the Akufo-Addo government halted the implementation of the policy.

A statement signed by the Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, explained that government took the decision after “extensive consultations between the Minister of Transport and stakeholders in the transport sector.”

It however served notice there was going to be further consultations on the best way to deal with the challenge of broken down vehicles going forward.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Osafo Maafo puts mandatory tow levy to bed appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This petition could culminate in a demonstration by the coalition does the levy is not withdrawn.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VX7Fz6OClpq2IkWTG8SGEIzzVXcCz79m”]The coalition, which is made up of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Committed Drivers Association, Industrial and Commercial Workers Union, Tanker Drivers Union and many others said it is targeting at least 10,000 signatures.

The PPP, for one, called on Ghanaians to resist “this lackadaisical attitude towards solving problems in this country.”

Also in the coalaition’s vision is a general upgrade of the safety conditions of roads in Ghana.

A convener of the coalition and Executive Director of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers of Ghana (COPEC), Duncan Amoah underscored the frustration of some Ghanaians towards the levy.

“Millions of Ghanaian have expressed their dissatisfaction with the naked attempt of robbing road users of money they already do not have,” he said to Citi News.

“If we do not get any positive feedback as to the complete withdrawal of this policy, definitely, we will all jump onto the street to express our disgust to ensure that a new and more innovative way is found so that going forward, pot holes are filled, streetlights are put in place, vehicles that need towing will be towed without it become a burden on everybody in the country.”

The towing levy is part of a programme to ensure that all vehicles that breakdown on highways are cleared off the roads. Drivers are required to pay a road safety levy ranging between GHc10 and GHc200.

Commercial vehicles and taxis are to pay GHc40, mini buses will pay GHc80, while heavy duty trucks will pay between GHc80 and GHc200 annually, depending on their tonnage. Non-commercial vehicles are expected to pay GHc20.

Amidst the widespread protests, the Ministry of Transport has said it has not yet taken any decision on the implementation of the controversial towing levy, though it is holding consultations with various stakeholders on the way forward.

The Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament has however recommended that government implement the mandatory tow tax.

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By: Naa Ankrah/Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Mr. Cudjoe was speaking on The Big Issue, where he also described the 20-year duration of the programme as “silly”.

[contextly_sidebar id=”MLSJDwnT2jR23nERkZ8unOv5Aw8Z8Mow”]”The issue really has always had to do with the arrangement. I think 20 years is too much. This is a short term issue. The fact that we are accepting as a State that we are abdicating our role in ensuring safety on our roads and deciding that we will rather outsource to a company… they want to outsource this because the State system has collapsed in terms of maintaining law and order on our roads,” Mr. Cudjoe said.

His advice to government is that it “takes the whole deal back again” adding that “I am not sure that a 20 year deal like this makes sense.”

“If we are talking maybe three of five years because you believe that you will be working towards making sure that the rules will be obeyed on our roads, maybe yes, but 20 years is just too much… The state is essentially suggesting to us through Parliament that we will never get anything right.”

The Ministry of Transport has come out to say it has not yet taken any decision on the implementation of this programme.

More companies should go through tender process

As part of possible changes to the deal, Mr. Cudjoe suggested that “the companies involved must be more than one and they must go through proper tendering processes.”

The sole company contracted by the National Road Safety Commission’s (NRSC) for the programme is Road Safety Management Services Limited.

The commission explained that other towing companies were assessed for possible involvement in the programme but lacked the requisite capacity.

Road Safety Management Services, on the other hand, is reported to have already acquired some 118 trucks ahead of the implementation of the programme.

Thus, settling on Road Safety Management Limited was the convenient option for the NRSC, though Road Safety Management Limited is expected to as a regulator of the smaller towing companies which will also be involved in the programme.

The towing programme is to ensure that all vehicles that breakdown on highways are cleared off the roads. Drivers are required to pay a road safety levy ranging between GHc 10 and GHc 200.

Commercial vehicles and taxis will pay GHc40, mini buses will pay GHc80, while heavy duty trucks will pay between GHc80 and GHc200 annually, depending on their tonnage. Non-commercial vehicles are expected to pay GHc20.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post State being irresponsible with controversial tow levy – Franklin Cudjoe appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“No decision has been taken yet on the commencement of the towing services,” a statement from the Transport Ministry and dated August 4, 2017 stated.

The Transport Ministry also said it is holding consultations with various stakeholders including the Parliamentary Select Committee on roads and transport on the way forward.

[contextly_sidebar id=”aqXD0T8mWgAS9PO94BLyJDiQ3iXxeKeA”]The Ministry in the statement further stated that the views of all stakeholders will be considered to enable it make informed decision on the matter.

“Thereafter, the Ministry’s decision will be communicated to the general public,” the statement added.

Tow levy a total rip-off?

The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) has severely criticized for trying to introduce a nationwide towing programme, to ensure that all vehicles that breakdown on highways are cleared off the roads.

For this reason, drivers were required to pay a road safety fee ranging between GHC 10 and GHC 200 in addition to their road worthy certification fees.

But several persons, pressure groups and civil society organizations kicked against the policy calling on government to scrap it immediately.

Parliamentary committee recommendation

But the Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament has recommended that government implement the mandatory tow tax.

Chairman of the Road and Transport Committee of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Samuel Ayepaye, further urged the sector ministry to intensify its sensitization activities before the programme is rolled out.

Mr. Ayepaye said the Ministry did not do enough “in terms of education and sensitization before they rolled out the project so we have given them up to the end of August to intensify their campaign and get the project implemented.”

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post No decision taken yet on tow levy – Transport Ministry appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.