The Greater Accra Regional Minister has discounted the recent announcement by an Accra chief to collect tolls from commercial vehicles in the city�s lorry stations, describing it as a recipe for chaos and confusion.
�The directive by the chief cannot be enforced and clearly it is a recipe for chaos and confusion,� he said.
The minister�s ruling was the aftermath of a meeting he had with the Regional Security Council following the chief�s announcement. According to Nii Armah Ashietey, in conjunction with the Security Council, the power and authority to impose any levy, dues and tolls on the operations of any vehicle is vested in the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
�Consequently, it is unlawful for anybody to impose any such levies on the operations of transport operators without due regard to the law,� he said. Where a traditional authority seeks to impose fees or levies the minister went on �this must be done in consultation with and concurrence of the MMDAs.�
The Regional Security Council, the statement explained, is appealing to the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other transport operators to exercise restraint and go about their work in peace and harmony with the MMDAs.
The council warned that it would not allow anybody to take the law into their own hands. The Asere Dzasetse Nii Amarkai III had announced to the public during the installation of the third Ga Mantse in Accra that he would collect tolls from vehicle owners at the various lorry stations through his soldiers.
The GPRTU Greater Accra Chairman said it was not going to work since his outfit would not pay anything to the chief.
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