UK Pursues Ghana High Commission for £5M Unpaid Congestion Charges

The United Kingdom government is taking a firm stance on unpaid London congestion charges, targeting several countries including Ghana and the United States. The move is aimed at recovering over £143 million owed to Transport for London (TfL) for fees and fines accrued by diplomats between 2003 and December 31, 2023.

According to TfL, the Ghana High Commission in the UK owes a little over £5 million, while the United States Embassy in London owes the highest amount of £14.6 million.

The Congestion Charging Embassy Outstanding debt has accumulated from 2003 to December 31, 2023.

The scheme involves a £15 daily fee for driving within an area of central London between 07:00 and 18:00 on weekdays, and between noon and 18:00 on weekends and bank holidays.

There are discounts and exemptions for various groups of people and vehicles, such as residents, taxis, and fully electric cars.

TfL has emphasized that the congestion charge is a service-based fee, not a tax, and therefore diplomats are not exempt from paying it. However, the majority of embassies in London do pay the charge, but there remains a stubborn minority who refuse to do so, despite TfL’s representations through diplomatic channels.

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TfL said in a statement: “We and the UK government are clear that the congestion charge is a charge for a service and not a tax. “This means that diplomats are not exempt from paying it.

“The majority of embassies in London do pay the charge, but there remains a stubborn minority who refuse to do so, despite our representations through diplomatic channels.

“We will continue to pursue all unpaid congestion charge fees and related penalty charge notices, and are pushing for the matter to be taken up at the International Court of Justice.”

The Foreign Office has stated that they expect diplomats to pay the charge, adding that they believe there are no legal grounds for diplomatic exemptions. On the other hand, the US Embassy in London has maintained that the congestion charge is a tax from which diplomatic missions are exempt, citing international law as reflected in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The issue has been ongoing since February 2020, when then-foreign secretary Dominic Raab issued a written ministerial statement revealing that his officials had written to “a number of diplomatic missions and international organisations” to “press for payment” of money owed relating to the congestion charge, parking fines, and business rates.

The pursuit of unpaid congestion charges is a significant step towards recovering the outstanding debt.

TfL will continue to pursue all unpaid fees and related penalty charge notices, and will push for the matter to be taken up at the International Court of Justice.

The UK government’s stance on this issue highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in international relations.

As diplomats operate on foreign soil, it is essential that they respect local laws and regulations, including traffic rules and congestion charges.

In conclusion, the UK government’s pursuit of unpaid congestion charges is a significant development that highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in international relations.

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