Street lighting is not a luxury, it is a fundamental element of urban infrastructure that enhances public safety, prevents accidents, deters crime, and fosters a sense of security. It supports economic activity, extends the usability of public spaces after dark and signals a government’s commitment to citizen well-being and smart urban planning.
Yet, in Accra, the national capital and gateway to the country, darkness continues to consume major roads at night, endangering lives and exposing a shocking level of administrative neglect. This is especially alarming as the country gears up for the full implementation of the 24-hour economy, an ambitious initiative championed by President John Mahama to expand economic activity across all sectors and time zones.
But how can a 24-hour economy thrive when the very roads people must use are engulfed in pitch darkness? Nobody needs to remind us that street safety in Accra has deteriorated due to non-functioning or absent street lights. The reality is visible to every driver, pedestrian and commuter in the city.
The Chronicle has consistently highlighted this issue. In March, we reminded the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, of her promise to address the problem. That promise remains unfulfilled. On July 3, 2025 we published an editorial titled “24hr Economy In The Midst Of Non-Functioning Streetlights,” in which we urged President Mahama to take a night drive through Accra to witness at firsthand the peril on our roads, after he (Mahama) had applauded the regional minister for fixing streetlights in Accra.
We cited specific stretches such as Tetteh Quarshie to Adenta, where only a few bulbs between the Ghana Standards Authority and Okponglo function. The story is no different along Liberation Road, Achimota-Ofankor and the George Walker Bush Highway.
On September 5, 2025 we again raised alarm in an article titled “Accra Roads Turn Death Traps At Night”, highlighting dark zones including the Achimota Overhead, Achimota School area, John Kufuor Avenue, Tema Motorway, Agyiriganor and Ashaley Botwe, among others. These are not rural backroads, they are major urban arteries that carry thousands daily.
Just yesterday, our staff witnessed a horrific accident involving three cars on the George Walker Bush Highway, an entire stretch left in total darkness. The absence of light made it nearly impossible for oncoming drivers to detect the wreckage ahead in time.
Meanwhile, in June 2025, Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor assured Ghanaians at an international forum that the country’s power supply is now stable, with surplus energy even being exported. He claimed progress was being made toward universal electricity access.
So, what explains this disconnect? If there is sufficient power, why are street lights across the capital non-functional? Is it a logistical failure, a financing gap or sheer incompetence? The Chronicle finds it deeply troubling that public safety can be compromised this way—with no accountability.
We also question how seriously the 24-hour economy policy is being pursued. How can such a transformative policy take root in an environment where basic infrastructure is neglected? A city that cannot guarantee visibility at night cannot support a safe, functional, round-the-clock economy.
We call on Jubilee House, the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council and all relevant authorities to stop taking Ghanaians for granted. Street lighting is not a political favor; it is a right, a necessity, and a duty owed to every citizen. The safety of Ghanaians must be treated as a national priority—not as an afterthought.
This issue will not be allowed to fade into the shadows. The Chronicle will continue to shine a light on the darkness in Accra – until our streets are safe again.
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