Weighing the Future: Ghana’s Battle for Transparency in Transport Infrastructure
…Weighbridges Turn Into Goldmine
In the heart of West Africa, Ghana finds itself at a critical crossroads in its transport infrastructure management. The nation’s weighbridge operations, once a guardian of road safety and infrastructure integrity, are now at the center of a controversy threatening the foundations of its transport sector. This saga revolves around the Akom weighbridge, where recent events spotlight systemic challenges that extend beyond a single station.
Under a new supervisor, revenue surged dramatically, with figures from Ing. Donkor revealing that revenue increased from GH₵608,159.00 in December 2023 to over GH₵3.1 million in April 2024, with the lowest collection recorded at GH₵1,576,790.00 in March 2024. This drastic increase raises serious questions about prior operations, suggesting potential underhanded dealings. Allegations also surfaced that sector coordinators strategically place cronies in lucrative positions to facilitate financial arrangements.
While the Tema Motorway Station led in revenue generation from January 2022 to December 2023, Akom has outperformed it from January to July 2024, recording GH₵12,760,864.00 compared to the Motorway’s GH₵6,617,763.52. It must be emphasized that the main objective is not merely to encourage revenue generation; these amounts are primarily due to fines imposed for overloading.
Concerns are magnified by the low salaries of weighbridge officials, contrasted with reports of some acquiring vehicles and buildings. This financial discrepancy raises alarms about the integrity of the system
The supervisor, initially brought in March 2023, was suspended without explanation but has since been recalled.
Investigations exposed irregularities extending beyond the Akom station. The weighbridge network, designed to ensure road safety and generate legitimate revenue, is reportedly failing. Reports of bribery are common, with officials allegedly accepting payments to overlook overloaded vehicles. In some cases, equipment meant to catch violators has been tampered with, allowing overweight trucks to pass. Alarmingly, document forgery suggests a concerted effort to conceal illegal activities.
At the heart of this crisis lies a fundamental flaw in Ghana’s deterrence approach. The current fine structure has become a mere cost of doing business for many transporters. While the GHA defends the system as compliant with the Road Traffic Regulations of 2012, the penalties are inadequate compared to the damage caused by overloaded vehicles. Dr. Ama Sarpong, a transport policy expert, notes that the current fines generate revenue rather than prevent overloading, creating a misguided incentive structure for transporters.
Experts like Mr. Joseph K. Horgle call for a comprehensive overhaul of the weighbridge system. He emphasizes the need to restructure penalties to reflect the true cost of road damage. With the highest fine for overloading at GH₵5,000—compared to the hundreds of thousands of US Dollars cost of constructing a kilometer of asphalt road—current penalties are ineffective.
To combat these challenges, Mr. Horgle advocates for digital solutions to reduce cash transactions and improve transparency. He suggests leveraging technology through automated weighing systems and real-time data reporting to enhance monitoring and accuracy.
Strengthening whistleblower protections, establishing independent oversight bodies, and investing in modernization are also crucial. Public education campaigns can foster a culture of compliance, while ongoing regulatory reviews ensure relevance. Regional cooperation can enhance effectiveness through shared practices.
As Ghana navigates these challenges, the stakes are high. The outcome will have implications for road safety, infrastructure longevity, and economic development, serving as a litmus test for the country’s commitment to transparency and good governance. Despite entrenched interests and systemic corruption, the potential rewards—safer roads and a more efficient transport sector—make this battle worth fighting.
As Accra’s sun sets, Ghana’s transport infrastructure hangs in the balance. The nation stands at a crucial juncture, facing a choice: seize the opportunity for reform or yield to corruption. The story of Ghana’s weighbridge operations is not just about regulatory failure; it highlights the ongoing struggle against corruption and the importance of robust systems in public infrastructure management. The lessons learned may shape not only the transport sector’s future but also Ghana’s broader approach to governance and accountability in the years to come.
Ultimately, the true test lies not in the proposals or policies enacted, but in the nation’s willingness to demand better, hold leaders accountable, and strive for a future where corruption no longer threatens progress.
In actual sense, Akom should be receiving more traffics than the Tema Motorway because of its strategic location which attracts traffic from the Takoradi Port as well as Tema Port, but if the systems are working correctly, Akom should not be recording the huge overloading, as the regulations enjoins offending transporters to shed off the excess goods when caught overloaded.
Management has also given approval to adjust the salaries of its contract weighbridge supervisors. The Authority is equally putting a weighing device on the Tema Beach Road. Generally, the transporters are not discipline in abiding by the Road Traffic Regulations.
To enhance efficiency, the GHA periodically organizes training programmes and exams for the coordinators and supervisors. The exams are every six months as the supervisors’ contract is for six months, subject to renewal based on satisfactory performances.
The authority is also putting measures in place to ensure that overloading is reduced to the barest minimal level. The GHA has been having periodic engagements with its stakeholders like the CPES, GPHA, Ghana Shippers Council, Burkina Faso, Mali among others,
They will continue to invest in new technologies. Government is supporting the Authority to building more weighbridge stations in various roads to prevent those who think that they can dodge to stop doing that. More mobile weigh vans also being procured
More anon.
Source: Innocent Samuel Appiah
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