Automation must not cause traffic - Joe Gidisu

Roads and Highways Minister Joe Gidisu

Roads and Highways Minister Joe Gidisu says the transition from manual to automated tolling at the Tema Motorway must not in any way lead to traffic congestion in the long term.

He said the slow movement of traffic earlier Tuesday was as a result of a vigorous configuration of an automated system to improve revenue collection.

The minister was reacting to concerns raised by some drivers who plied the road earlier in the day that works on the system at parts of the motorway were impeding the free flow of traffic.

But speaking to Joy News in an interview, Mr Gidisu said the situation would soon be brought to a closure as a team of engineers are working to complete the first phase of the project.

Consultants working on the electronic toll collection system have warned of initial problems but have been quick to add that the system would soon facilitate free vehicular movement.

The project is in phases but the first two phases are expected to be complete in three weeks, consultants have said.

“At the moment we are at stage one and with that we are collecting cash; and then at the next step we're going into the electronic cash [collection,” Victor Awome, lead consultant of on the project said.

Meanwhile government has hinted that it would live up to its election promise to improve revenue collection.

The latest electronic tolling system also follows suggestions by President John Mills that automation is the way to go.

Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana