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The change in our pocket is too much
Obibinii Paa-Kwasi
Commentary, Feb 6, Ghanadot - There were many promises that the
NDC made during their campaign in the 2008 general elections but
there was one that was very prominent and that was the NDC’s
promise of “a change that we could feel in our pockets”. After a
year of the NDC government I think I’m now feeling the real
change in my pocket and I sincerely know that many others are
also feeling the same. Seriously, they have in no iota of doubt
over delivered on this promise of theirs.
In fact for some time now I had being seeing the announcements
of the new road tolls in the dailies but l never gave it any
attention until this Monday when reality check dawned on me. I’m
someone who lives at a place that is very far from my workplace
so by virtue of my residential location and the kind of car I
drive I’m now mandated to pay a new road toll of GH¢4.00
everyday [i.e. GH¢2.00 on my way to work and the same amount
back home]. Thus I would have to use the lane of two toll booths
before I go to work and return home.
Indeed after Monday’s encounter at the toll booth, I decided to
plan for the new toll rates and I was shocked and surprised at
the change. For instance I go to work 6 out of the 7 days in a
week so obviously I would have to donate GH¢4.00 every day to
the toll fund thus about GH¢96.00 every month and GH¢1,152.00
every year; all other things being equal. On the other hand I
spent GH¢57.60 in the whole of 2009 on tolls. Hence I would be a
liar and a hypocrite to say that I can’t feel the change that is
profligately taking place in my pocket.
This wind of change got me thinking so I asked myself this
simple question; how much are tro-tro and taxi drivers going to
spend on tolls a day and what percentage of their sales is it
going to be? For instance a tro-tro driver who uses the Accra-Kasoa
road would have to pay GH¢2.00 on every trip [i.e. in and out]
hence he would be required to pay GH¢20.00 if he embarks on ten
trips everyday.
Therefore if we assume without admitting that
this driver can make about GH¢100.00 a day thus 20% of his daily
proceeds would be going to the toll fund. However if he makes
less than GH¢100.00 a day it means that he is going to give away
more than 20% of his daily proceeds. If you think this is not a
change that the tro-tro and taxi drivers can feel in their
pockets then you might be coming from a different planet.
My brothers and sisters, the change in the toll rate is too
profligate although a few of you may not be feeling it in your
pockets because of your current financial locations. However,
let me hasten to add that I would be very glad if the
authorities in charge can go back to the drawing board and be a
little realistic with the rates again. And as for the
parliamentarians who passed this thing [i.e. Miscellaneous
Provisions Act 2009, Act793] into law; the least said about them
the better not forgetting “The Self-acclaimed Caring Father For
All” Agya Atta who signed it. Indeed, we are now feeling the
change too much and the earlier they do something about it the
better for us all.
Obibinii Paa-Kwasi
The Chalant “Atiglinyi”
Obibiniipaakwasi@gmail.com
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