Our Street Lights Should Be Turned-On - Bolgatanga Residents

Street lights along major streets in the Bolgatanga Township for the past two weeks have been off, posing danger to residents and road users at night.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) has observed that street lights on major streets including the Bolga -Navrongo highway, the Daporitindogo-Bukere street, linking the Regional library road, and from the main Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) office streets towards Zuarungu have not been lit for weeks.

Apart from the poor street lighting system, the Regional capital, Bolgatanga, for more than a year depended on only one set of traffic lights, near the Regional offices of the GNA and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) where four link roads meet.

The rest of the traffic lights located at vantage points where several roads meet in the Municipality are not functioning.

Mr Mohammed Jawal, a driver, told the GNA in an interview that the absence of these basic facilities, especially the street lights has resulted in many drivers hitting on speed ramps and potholes which could have been avoided if the streets were lit.

“We are compelled to drive with our high lights on, even though that affects other road users.”

Mr Edmond Yaani, a resident who lives along the Bolga-Navrongo highway in the municipality, said it is worrying that the town was so dark at night. “I am even scared to walk or sit by the street at night. Someone can easily harm you and run away unnoticed.”

Madam Emmanuela Atugra, a food vendor along the Bolga-Navrongo road, in an interview with the GNA, said the darkness on the street has affected her business because customers cannot see her from afar.

“As you can see, I am using this lamp but is not clear. I want to appeal to the authorities to try and fix the street lights for us.”

Some Police officers at post at the Regional hospital roundabout told the GNA on condition of anonymity that “as we are here, we cannot see far. Assuming someone is attacked over there (pointing to some part of the street), we will not see, and by the time we get there, the person might escape. If the lights are fixed visibility will be clear for us to do our work.”

Even though the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Joseph Atura Ameyuuri, was not readily available to comment on the issue, Mr Daniel Atehulo, the Bolgatanga Municipal Works Engineer, who was not willing to comment on the matter only said, “We are aware, the engineer has gone round to assess it. We are working on it.”