Nearly three years after installation, most of the street lights along the 19-km Accra-Tema Motorway have vanished.
A recent observation by a Daily Graphic team revealed that numerous street lights and poles, which were set up in 2021, are now missing, and the few remaining poles are damaged.
The authorities are left scrambling to explain the situation. Despite the involvement of several public institutions in the project, none could clarify the disappearance of the street lights. The Ghana Highway Authority, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, and the Ministry of Energy have all shifted blame onto each other.
An insider from the Ministry of Energy informed the Daily Graphic that maintaining the country’s street lighting system has been challenging due to various obstacles.
A significant issue highlighted by the source is a lack of clarity among state agencies regarding ownership and maintenance responsibilities for the street lights.
According to the source, while the Ministry of Energy oversaw their construction, the law stipulates that the lights must be handed over to local authorities with jurisdiction over the installation areas.
Complicating matters further, the motorway falls under the authority of different local jurisdictions. The source added that officials from the Ghana Highway Authority have consistently advised the ministry that the street lights are part of the road infrastructure, thus falling under the authority’s purview.
“There have been several arguments over who must be responsible for street lights over the years, and we need to come to an agreement on that as a nation,” the source said.
According to the Street Lighting in Ghana Policy Framework (2011), the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) are responsible for the development, installation, maintenance, replacement and operation of street lights within their respective jurisdictions.
The policy framework clarifies the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in ensuring effective street lighting across the country.
“Consequently, all street lighting constructed by the public agencies— central government, the MMDAs, road authorities and the community—should be transferred to and owned by the local government authorities (MMDAs). Construction of community street lights shall be sanctioned by the MMDA,” it states.
This aligns with the stipulations outlined in the Local Government (Departments of District Assemblies) (Commencement) Instrument, 2009, (Legislative Instrument 1961).
In addition to the issues of ownership and maintenance, the source emphasized that preventing theft of road infrastructure, such as street lights, on the motorway has proven to be a significant challenge.
In fact, contractors have reported incidents of theft occurring even while they were engaged in repairs on the street lights, leading to the replacement of three transformers before the project was completed.
Situation
Navigating the 19-kilometre Accra-Tema Motorway at night has become a daunting experience due to the absence of street lights, which are crucial for adequate visibility.
Although solar-powered street lights were installed along approximately two-thirds of the route three years ago, motorists frequently raised concerns about inadequate illumination, particularly on the outer lanes, where many lights were faulty.
In 2021, Professor Alex Dodoo, the Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority, informed the Daily Graphic that these street lights failed to meet the national standards for roadway lighting.
As a result, drivers now face complete darkness when traveling on this stretch at night.
Globally, effective street lighting is essential in road construction to ensure the safety of nighttime road users.
Street lights offer numerous benefits, including providing safe passage for pedestrians by lighting up footpaths and increasing their visibility to drivers.
Additionally, they contribute to a sense of safety in the environment after dark and help to reduce crime rates.
