The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has issued a stern warning to individuals involved in the theft of streetlights and their components, vowing to take decisive action against perpetrators.
His strong stance comes amid rising concerns over the frequent vandalism and theft of street lighting infrastructure, which has plunged several streets in Kumasi and other parts of the Ashanti Region into darkness, compromising both security and road safety.
Dr. Amoakohene made this declaration while addressing journalists after a tour of major roads in Kumasi to assess the state of malfunctioning streetlights.
The tour, which included key security officials and representatives from the Department of Urban Roads and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), was aimed at identifying problematic areas and formulating solutions to restore adequate lighting to affected streets.
The Ashanti Region has witnessed an increase in the theft of streetlight components, particularly electrical cables and bulbs. These thefts, which often occur under the cover of darkness, have left many roads in a hazardous state, exposing pedestrians and motorists to potential accidents and criminal activities.
Dr. Amoakohene lamented the situation, stating that the theft of streetlight parts not only disrupts urban infrastructure but also places a financial burden on the government, which must repeatedly allocate resources for repairs and replacements.
The Regional Minister also disclosed that the issue of streetlight theft has been extensively discussed at the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), and strategic actions are being taken to apprehend those responsible.
“We are out to make sure that we curb this problem. So we fix the streetlights, people go in there and then take away the cables. The copper ones are prone to a lot of this thievery. So we are offering an aluminum option but even with that, we are still going to make sure that at least we get a scapegoat.
“And once we are able to do that, we will be very sure that the other criminals out there would take a cue that the laws of Ghana are at work and that the security agencies are up and doing.”
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