The Operation of Ghana’s Upcoming Cashless Toll System via the Ghana Card

 

How Ghana’s New Cashless Toll System Will Operate Using the Ghana Card

Ghana is preparing to implement a fully digital road tolling system that removes the need for human attendants. This modern solution will allow drivers to pay tolls electronically, leveraging the Ghana Card and mobile payment systems to ensure a faster and contactless process.

During the 9th Ghana CEO Summit, held under the theme “Transforming Business and Governance for a Sustainable Futuristic Economy,” President John Dramani Mahama highlighted the country’s expanding digital infrastructure. He explained how services such as driver’s license issuance and vehicle registration are already linked to the Ghana Card—and how this foundation will support the upcoming toll system.

How the System Will Operate

The President described a smooth and automated process: as vehicles pass through designated toll zones, cameras will capture their license plates, and a bill will automatically be sent to the driver’s linked mobile wallet or bank account. The driver simply approves the payment from their phone.

“For instance, if it’s a one-cedi toll at East Legon bridge, a picture of your car is taken and a charge is sent to you. Payment is deducted from your mobile money or bank account,” he said.

This system is designed to eliminate delays and traffic jams at toll booths while taking full advantage of Ghana’s growing digital capacity.

Background of Toll Collection in Ghana

Ghana’s toll system dates back to the Tolls Act of 1965 (Act 314), which allowed certain roads and bridges to be designated as toll routes. The legislation empowered the Minister to set toll rates and define exemptions for categories like the Armed Forces, Police, and emergency services.

Physical toll booths once required attendants, notice boards, and manual registers—especially for government vehicles or those traveling on official duties.

The 2022 Suspension of Tolls

In 2022, the government eliminated toll collection, citing problems like severe traffic, pollution, and disorderly roadside markets. Although the system brought in around 78 million cedis annually, it was halted to make way for more streamlined alternatives.

This decision, however, came at a cost: toll booth operators—many of them physically challenged—as well as street vendors lost their means of income. The government also lost a consistent source of infrastructure funding.

Calls from stakeholders such as the Ghana Highway Authority pushed for toll reintroduction to address revenue shortfalls and road maintenance challenges.

What the Digital Return Means

Reintroducing tolls in a cashless form is expected to boost road maintenance funds without the bottlenecks of traditional toll collection. It also reduces the risk of fraud and minimizes the need for roadside infrastructure.

Most importantly, it reflects a broader shift toward digital governance, making transportation in Ghana smarter, faster, and more transparent.