NEW JUABEN RESIDENTS UNHAPPY WITH POOR STREET LIGHTS (PAGE 20)

RESIDENTS of the New Juaben Municipality have expressed worry over the failure of the authorities to maintain the Koforidua streetlight project aimed at boosting security in the area at night.
They said the situation had resulted in increased armed robbery cases in the municipality.
The multi-million dollar project, which was gradually failing to fulfil the purpose for which it was executed, stretched from Okras to Magazine, Akwadum through Effiduase to Oyoko and some parts of the municipality.
Executed by the Elsewedy Electrical Ghana Limited barely a year ago, most of the street streetlights do not light up the streets at night, eroding the sense of security among residents.
The people, who attributed the problem to lack of maintenance on the part of the authorities concerned, feared that the situation could easily provide a field day for armed robbers and other criminals to operate in the night.
They stated that while the Eastern Regional Police Command had stepped up their presence on the streets and in the neighbourhoods, their commitment to combat crime in the area could be adversely compromised due to frequent darkness in the area.
Madam Aqua Mensah, a trader at Adweso told the Daily Graphic that the poor visibility in the area at night had affected her sense of security, a fear that had often compelled her to close her shop early.
Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, a 46-year-old teacher, said darkness at Kenkey Factory could make the area more prone to criminal activities, adding “you just have to come home early and stay at home if you really cherish your safety”.
A senior medical personnel who spoke to the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity, stated that the Nursing and Midwifery Training College and the Medical Village had become crime prone area since the streetlights were not functioning.
“Our houses and cars are often burgled into by criminals in the night while the students at the Nurses’ Training College, mostly the females, have had their mobile phones snatched anytime the light fails to light up the streets”, the health personnel added.
They have, therefore, made a passionate appeal to the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Alex ., to help address the problem immediately to enhance security in the municipality.