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Lecturer condemns abolishing of road tolls
Dr Kennedy A. Alatinga, a Senior lecturer and Dean of the Faculty of Planning and Land Management of the SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies has described as bad and ill- planned to abolish road tolls.
He also condemned the decision to tax mobile money transaction (Momo) above GH¢100.00 and other electronic banking.
Dr Alatinga said, in Wa after the 2022 budget presentation to Parliament, that unemployment was also likely to rise if the road tolls were abolished.
He explained that the road toll was instituted to generate help as part of revenue generation source to support the Road Fund, which was setup in 1985 to secure sources of funding for the preservation of the roads.
He said some provisions in the Road Fund Act, 1997 (Act 536) mandated the Road Fund board to ensure that the nation’s trunk, feeder and urban roads were regularly maintained and that generated revenue at the toll booths was mandatory.
Dr Alatinga said it was necessary to properly and transparently manage the road toll booths to generate more money for development.
“Already, we are grappling with poor road network and we know the havoc long vehicles from neighbouring countries are destroying our roads. So how do we allow all of them to run on our roads for free”, he said.
He claimed that there was excessive hardship in the country and that any policy that will let some people lose their jobs was a bad policy, which must have a second look to sustain jobs.
“Using traffic congestion as some of the reasons for abolishing the road tolls is not a good example because there are parts of the country where traffic congestion is heavier than even around toll booths.
There is no toll booth at Suame in Kumasi, but due to poor road network, there is always traffic congestion there”, he said.
On the tax on mobile and other electronic banking, Dr Alatinga said the situation will prevent people from transacting business electronically, especially as the country was talking about cashless economy. -GNA
Ghana’s singing Prophet, Joseph Atarah, has released a video for his new song dubbed ‘Increase’. The video was directed and shot by renowned director, Sky Web.
The motivational video exhibits captivating dance moves, set against the vibrant and beautiful city of Accra. Prophet Atarah co-wrote the song with Nana Boateng.
Touching on the message during an interview on Hitz FM’s Daybreak Hitz, he said, ‘Increase’ is a motivational song telling people not to give up in their present situation. According to him, with determination and a relentless desire to succeed, God will make everything beautiful.
“As you trust in God’s plan, remember that ‘INCREASE’ is on the way. Just as seeds grow into harvest, your faith is growing into abundance. God’s got you, and His increase is surrounding you,” he added.
Prophet Atarah resigned from the military band in 2006 after an encounter with God to start his prophetic ministry and commenced his music journey about four years ago.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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President John Dramani Mahama, in in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has made donations on behalf of the people of Ghana to Jamaica, Sudan and Cuba to support those countries as they struggle to rebuild.
On behalf of Ghana, he donated over 2,400 bags of made-in-Ghana rice, assorted clothes, mattresses, made-in-Ghana cocoa products, bags of sugar, polytanks and other essential items to the victims of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica , Cuba , and the people of Sudan suffering from war.
The decision stems from Ghana’s solidarity with the affected compatriots.
President Mahama in his address during the presentation at the presidency, said the humanitarian items were worth GHC10 million.
He said 50 percent of the items will go to Jamaica, 30 percent to Cuba, and 20 percent to the International Red Cross for their camps in Sudan.
President Mahama said they appealed to private individuals among others who generously contributed towards the humanitarian course.
Foreign Affairs minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa expressed the country’s appreciation to institutions and private individuals who supported in raising the items.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
