- Once symbols of road infrastructure, Ghana’s abandoned tollbooths are now crumbling hazards. Along the Kasoa highway and Tema Motorway, deteriorating structures have become shelters for vulnerable individuals and hotspots for illicit activity.
- With collapsing canopies, poor lighting, and rising accident rates, commuters are demanding urgent demolition and safety upgrades.
Ghana’s tollbooths were once part of a national revenue system. Today, they’re relics of neglect—crumbling, unlit, and increasingly dangerous. Along the Kasoa highway, commuters say the abandoned booths have become shelters for mentally ill individuals, dumping grounds for garbage, and ticking time bombs for road users.
Taxi driver Samuel Biney recounted a near-miss when fragments of a collapsing canopy nearly struck his vehicle. Traders nearby say the booths have turned into filthy shelters, filled with discarded clothing and debris. With no plans to resume manual toll collection, many are asking why these structures still stand.
The situation is no better on the Tema Motorway. Despite a partial demolition exercise in 2023, several booths remain. Some have become crash sites, others serve as hideouts for drug users. Truck driver Farouk says the booths are now hotspots for weed smokers, while commuters warn that poor visibility at night makes the structures even more dangerous.
The Roads Ministry has announced a shift to automated tolling, but no timeline has been provided for full demolition. The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) says it will coordinate with police to protect road users and prevent further misuse of the booths. In the meantime, advocacy campaigns are being planned to raise awareness among drivers.
With lives already lost and more at risk, commuters are demanding swift action. The call is clear: remove the obsolete structures, restore lighting, and make Ghana’s highways safe again.
