Controversial mandatory towing levy suspended

Government has put on hold, the implementation of the law that mandates vehicle owners to pay an annual mandatory towing levy.

Passed in 2012, the LI 2180 was given five years fallow period after which it would jump to life in 2017. With just two weeks to its implementation, the new regulation has been met with public disapproval.

Some have questioned the basis for which the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) awarded the contract to the Road Safety Management Limited (RSML) a subsidiary of the Jospong Group owned by Businessman Joseph Siaw Agyapong.

Fees per year for both commercial and non-commercial vehicles, depending on tonnage, range from GHS20 to GHS200.

Questions relating to whether the payments will be tied to a number of vehicles towed and how the activities of the towing services are going to be monitored are yet to be answered.

Last week Chief Policy Analyst at the Ghana Institute of Public Policy Options (GIPPO) Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby called on the president, Nana Akufo-Addo to immediately halt the implementation of the policy until thorough public awareness is done.

But Deputy Transport Minister, Daniel Nii Kwatei Titus-Glover says the government has directed the NRSC to suspend the policy.

Mr. Titus-Glover disclosed to Kojo Asare Baffuor Acheampong (KABA) on the Ekosii Sɛn programme on Asempa FM Monday, June 19, 2017, the decision is to allow stakeholder engagements to address all the issues being raised regarding the policy.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Jerry Tsatro Mordy | Email: [email protected], Twitter: @jerrymordy