A dark capital city: Accra’s dead streetlights put lives at risk

Each passing day and week, the number of dead streetlights across the capital keeps rising, putting lives of motorists at risk.

Major roads in Accra are shrouded in total darkness in the night, making it difficult for drivers to see the highway, particularly in areas without reflective markers or road signs.

The situation has left road safety experts concerned as they demand an urgent action to prevent fatalities in the run-up to the 2024 elections.

3news’ Christian Yalley spent some nights to tour some major roads in the capital and reports that lives are endangered.

His night ride, as striking as it was, exposed him to a reduced visibility and a treacherous journey.

From the Accra-Nsawam-Kumasi highway, well-erected poles did not serve their purpose as the lights fixed on them were completely off.

The 15-kilometre Awoshie-Pokuase road was not different.

For a road whose contract was awarded under the late President Atta Mills, one would have expected to see better visibility on it.

Yet, most of the light poles on the stretch are nothing but decorative, with residents along the stretch calling for an immediate attention to avert a possible disaster.

“I think the light has not worked for about 10 years now. Two years ago, they were changing the bulb to fix new ones.”

“But, since then, here is no effort to ensure the light is on,” Henry Asiseh, a resident of Ablekuma, recounted.

At the three-level interchange connecting the Nsawam-Pokuase road and the ACP junction, however, it is all glamorous.

A random check on National Road 4 was not surprising. From the Tetteh Quarshie roundabout through Shiashie to the University of Ghana, the two-kilometre stretch lacks illumination.

It is the same on the Aburi road as the Ayi-Mensah toll booth-Peduase lodge stretch paints a gloomy picture.

Road safety expert, Cecil Garbrah, reveals that many drivers are increasingly becoming prone to eye-relates issues.

He explains that “every driver needs, at least, to see 25 metres when driving ahead of you. Do we have that? It’s unfortunate.”

“Drivers are rather having eye issues because you need to strain your eyes in the evening and drive,” he told TV3.

Frontage of Jubilee House not exception.

The problem of non-functioning streetlights persists in front of the Jubilee House, the seat of government.  One side of the frontage of the Jubilee House is plunged into total darkness as about 10 light poles are without a lit light.

Beyond road safety, the situation raises serious concerns, one that advocates have lamented.

According to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), it is “very difficult to tell why the lights are not out.”

“There are agencies that have clear responsibilities over these matters… and it’s a cross-sector issue. At some point, it’s either the Department of Urban Roads; at other places, it is the Highway Authority.”

“The assemblies [have a role to play] because it has security implications for communities but to a greater extent the Ministry of Energy [is involved],” the Director of Regulations, Inspections and Compliance at the NRSA, Kwame Koduah Atuahene, said.

Roads users fear for their lives, citing robbery cases and theft of car parts when they break down in the night on the road.

What the numbers say

According to the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service, approximately 30% of road crashes happen at night.

The Ghana Statistical Service also reports that pedestrian knockdowns account for nearly 40% of road fatalities, with inadequate lighting playing a significant role.

The World Health Organisation’s 2023 Global Status Report on road safety indicates that road crashes cost Ghana three to five percent of its annual gross domestic product.

Mr. Garbrah says streetlights “are part of the engineering of our roads and if they are not there, of course we should have a lot of accidents on our roads.”

The NRSA, meanwhile, says it is “high on ensuring that vehicles that move around at night have improved visibility so that they do not suffer the consequences of the already compounded situation.”

A capital enveloped in dark streets, leading to serious security concerns and creating an environment for criminal activities to thrive.

What experts agree is an urgent fix of these streetlights to light up the country to improve safety and enhance economic output.

The post A dark capital city: Accra’s dead streetlights put lives at risk first appeared on 3News.

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