Public reacts to towing levy suspension
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has welcomed the government’s decision to discontinue the controversial mandatory tow levy.
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According to the union, the suspension was an indication that the government had given a listening ear to the people.
Minimising the carnage
The Vice-Chairman of the GPRTU, Mr Robert Sarbah, said the idea of towing disabled vehicles off the road was a good one but more needed to be done to carve an implementation mechanism that would be accepted by all.
He said the union had always supported the policy but had a problem with the quantum of levies, hence the need for the government to review them.
Mr Sarbah, therefore, urged the government to speed up the review process to minimise the carnage on the road.
“The breakdown vehicles are causing lots of nuisance on the road and it is about time that as a country we dealt with that menace,” he stated.
GTRCC holds meeting
For his part, the acting General Secretary the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC), Mr Andrews Kwesi Kwakye, told the Daily Graphic that the council would hold an executive meeting today where the tow levy suspension would be discussed.
The GTRCC had supported the implementation of the policy to curb the menace on the roads but raised some concerns with the charges.
“We recommended that the fees be reduced and instead of collecting the levies yearly, it should be collected, say, every two years or more. We hope that Parliament will consider these recommendations and do something about the fees,” Mr Kwakye said.
Social media reaction
On social media, some Ghanaians had also commended the government for for heeding to the people.
On Facebook, Mr Kwando Ronny, an Environmental Advocate at the Centre for Environmental Research and Policy Analysis, wrote: “I think it is a good decision from the government because I was of the view that the compulsory towing levy was not right. If we want to secure our roads and ensure their safety for the Ghanaian, then, we can have a towing policy which stipulates in it, compulsory towing fees, not a levy.”
Mr Evans Kwasi Gapson also wrote: “The whole idea was ill thought out because all cars and trucks in Ghana have motor vehicle insurance and the best thing to do is make it part of your insurance benefits when your car gets towed and the fees paid by your insurance company.”
Background
Following the extensive consultation between the Minister of Transport and stakeholders in the transport sector, the government, in a statement last Sunday, announced the suspension of the mandatory towing levy which was scheduled to start on July 1, 2017.
According to the statement signed by the Minister of Transport, Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, the government decided to seek a review of parts of the Legislative Instrument (L.I) 2180 (Road Traffic Regulations, 2012).
