Tow levy wasn’t planned well – JL Holdings boss

The Executive Chairman of JL Holdings Dr.James Orleans-Lindsay has backed government’s decision to back down on the mandatory tow levy.

The Transport Ministry announced over the weekend the government has scrapped the project until the tow law is reviewed.

“The government has decided not to implement, the mandatory towing levy which was scheduled to have commenced on 1st July 2017.

“This follows extensive consultation between the minister for transport and stakeholders in the transport sector,” a statement signed by transport minister Kwaku Ofori Asiamah said.

“Upon consultations consequent to the calls, the government has decided to seek a review of parts of the laws specifically to achieve the following objective; Removal from the law, the concept of a mandatory towing levy on all owners and persons in charge of motor vehicles and trailers,” the statement added.

Speaking about the policy which sparked loud public uproar in Ghana, Dr. Orleans-Lindsay noted the tow levy was not “very well-thought-out.”

“What stops us from getting locked down centres at the various places? By that I mean in Europe we have specific places that are designated in the municipalities for broken down vehicles. When your car breaks down it is taken there and you’re booked and you must have an arrangement that within an hour it is towed,” Dr. Orleans-Lindsay, who is into real estate and business development and project management told Starrfmonline.com.

He proposed that the project should be run by the local assemblies “and not a private person.”

He added: “It should be run by the municipalities and not a private person. They can run it to become self-sufficient. Why should I single out one person to handle a tow for the whole Ghana? Why? It doesn’t add up. Can the person do same in the North among others? Where are the demarcated lock down centres clearly defined along the major roads?”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Dr. Orleans-Lindsay stressed.

In 2012, Parliament passed the Legislative Instrument 2180 [ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS, 2012] which in regulation 102 [3] imposes a mandatory levy on all owners and persons in charge of motor vehicles, for the purpose of towing broken down or disabled vehicles on Ghana’s roads.