Comment: Of Street Lights And Road Accidents

In recent times some of the major roads in the country have recorded series of road accidents attributed to all sorts of happenings involving either pedestrians or drivers. These accidents have left in their wake various degrees of casualties, in some cases deaths on the spot. But in all of these road accidents, one fact that has emerged is the fact that, lack of street lights account for almost 70 percent of those accidents, particularly those that happen in the night. But this situation cannot be limited to our major roads alone but even more terrible is the spate of accidents within the cities and towns in the country, which were caused by unavailability of street lights. In fact, it is very pathetic to witness fatal road accidents within our cities and towns all because there are no street lights. What is most disturbing is that, our city and town authorities sit down unconcerned and neglect their duties until after a tragedy before they would wake up to their responsibilities. Available statistics have indicated that, on the Mallam-Kasoa highway alone, not less than 15 deaths could be counted as a result of accidents that were caused by lack of street lights at night. So far how long are we going to sit down and watch these precious lives being taken out of this life as a result of something that could be prevented? What is even amazing is that, electricity consumers countrywide are made to pay some monies to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) towards the maintenance of our streetlights countrywide. So the question is, what is wrong. We on The Independent are calling on all our city and town authorities countrywide to immediately endeavour to provide streetlights within their respective areas and extend it onto the highways, at least the stretch within their catchment areas. Christmas is fast approaching and we will also accept that, it is one season during which a lot of people travel on our roads to visit relatives and to attend to other family, social and pressing issues. Let us as a country move quickly to save lives, for they are precious lives Ghana needs to boost productivity. We humbly call on the government to wake up its officers who are in slumber to sit up and work to save mother Ghana these precious lives.