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Lecturer condemns abolishing of road tolls

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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

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SSNIT redevelopment plans for La Pleasure Beach suspended – La Traditional Council

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The La Traditional Council says all redevelopment plans by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) for the demolished La Pleasure Beach Resort have been put on hold.

The decision follows a high-level stakeholder meeting involving the La Traditional Council, SSNIT and the National Security.

Speaking after the meeting, La Shikitele Nii Adjei Koofeh IV said the Council was unhappy with the manner in which the demolition exercise was carried out without prior consultation with the traditional authorities.

He explained that the La Traditional Council, as the landowners and primary stakeholders, should have been informed before the exercise.

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According to him, National Security officials explained that not every operation or exercise requires prior disclosure, but the Council maintained that it should at least have been alerted because of its interest in the land.

Nii Adjei Koofeh IV criticised SSNIT over claims that it had been engaging the traditional authorities on the redevelopment of the area.

He said SSNIT had published information suggesting that it would continue engaging the Council, which implied that consultations had already begun.

He maintained that this was not the case and said the Council raised the matter during the meeting.

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He said SSNIT subsequently apologised, while National Security also apologised for failing to engage the traditional authorities before the demolition exercise.

On the way forward, Nii Adjei Koofeh IV said the redevelopment has been suspended to allow for proper consultations and the observance of due process.

He said a committee will be formed to examine the issues surrounding the demolition and consider SSNIT’s redevelopment plans with the aim of reaching an agreement that satisfies all stakeholders.

The La Traditional Council, he added, wants the interests of the La people to be protected in any future arrangement.

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He stressed that whatever belongs to La must remain beneficial to the people of La, while the interests of La indigenes working at the facility must also be safeguarded.

By: Jacob Aggrey

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Man arrested in Ashaiman for allegedly posing as soldier and extorting money

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The Tema Regional Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly posing as a soldier and extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public at Ashaiman.

The suspect, identified as Bright Atsu Kudiabor, was arrested by the Ashaiman Police on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at about 7:00 a.m.

According to the Police, he was arrested at an area known as “I Shall Return”, where he was allegedly parading himself as a soldier and demanding money from people.

The Police said Kudiabor, who is an ex-convict, was initially arrested by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service in Ashaiman with assistance from other members of the public.

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A search conducted on him after he was handed over to the Police reportedly led to the recovery of a set of military camouflage uniform.

The suspect is currently in Police custody and assisting with investigations.

The Tema Regional Police Command said he would be processed for court after investigations are completed.

The Police urged the public to remain vigilant and report anyone who falsely presents themselves as a soldier or a member of another security agency to deceive or extort money from the public.

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By: Jacob Aggrey

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