The absence of adequate street lighting is once again raising safety concerns on major roads in the capital following the recent accident on the J.A. Kufuor (Achimota – Ofankor) Highway.
Although the Accra – Tema Beach Road is undergoing a major rehabilitation, portions of the stretch remain dark at night, raising questions about how road users can be kept safe until the project is completed.
When the news team visited the area, we caught up with Asibi, who sells in the La enclave.
She recalled a robbery incident that occurred last week which nearly put herself and her toddler in danger.
“The street lights that are not here really worry us who sell around here. Sometimes, armed robbers come here, and just last week, one tried to snatch my bag. I called out for help, but no one came to my rescue. We want authorities to fix some street lights so that it helps those of us who work around.”
For many commuters like Asibi who use that road, it is no news. They explained that the situation becomes particularly worrying during peak evening hours.
Albert, a commuter, shared his experience. “It is really worrying. Just recently, a motor hit an old man when he was trying to cross the road. I later found out he died.”
For Patience, who also works around the area, it gets more worrying when there is no one in sight after work.
“Thieves around attack us when there is no light. And sometimes when you are here alone, and with no man or anybody to stand by you, those bad boys around attack us, so it affects us badly. You can see that it’s too dark right now. When we close from work around 7 to 8, we stand here in fear.”
Drivers explained that the darkness is more than an inconvenience.
According to them, it affects how they see and respond to what is happening on the road.
Mr Mensah narrated his ordeal.
“As drivers, we have to be extremely careful when driving so that we do not knock anyone down on the road.”
Ebenezer, a motorcyclist, said that in the middle of the journey, when their lights go off, they are left with no other option than to use the cars’ lights, and when the flashes become too much, they navigate with only experience.
For Ohemaa, who always uses the road, the tendency for their phones to be snatched is always high.
“It’s very bad, because for some of us, it poses the danger of our phones being easily stolen. Especially if you are by the window side, and you are using your phone light, it can easily be snatched, and this street is noted for that. So, in the absence of light, it increases the likelihood of you being robbed.”
The Accra-Tema Beach Road is an important coastal corridor linking communities from Accra towards Tema.
The wider Beach Road project spans about 26.6 kilometres, with a 16 km stretch running from the Independence Arch through Osu, La, and Teshie to Nungua.
What follows is the Nungua-to-Tema Community Three section covering about 10.6 kilometres.
Along the corridor are residential communities, schools, businesses, hotels, health facilities and other major institutions, yet the stretch remains dark.
Some residents and road users acknowledged that the rehabilitation works may have contributed to the current lighting situation.
They, however, maintain that public safety remains paramount.
They said, “The reason why the street lights have not been worked on is simply that the roads have not yet been completed. So if the roads are completed, I hope the government will quickly take steps to complete the street lights as well.”
The call, therefore, is for urgent completion of the project and adequate lighting along the corridor so that this vital link between Accra and Tema does not become a safety risk simply because the sun has gone down.
