Metal covers of road drains in Kumasi are increasingly being stolen in a city which is bereft of well lit roads, rendering some a danger to motorists.
This development has also manifested on pavements in the city and its environs, putting pedestrians at risk.
The latest road to have come under attack is the Labour roundabout-Jubilee Park road, where three metal coverings have been stolen, leaving drivers and pedestrians to their fate.
These metal covers are over drain chamber for conveying rain waters into storm drains.
They are also used by utility companies such as the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and telecommunications operators to provide services to their clients.
In an attempt to avert road accidents after these items have been stolen, some good Samaritans have devised a strategy of placing vehicular tyres in front of some of the chambers. Others also have resorted to the use of sticks with cloth tied to them and reflector jacket as means of warning drivers and pedestrians about the danger on the roads.
Some of the areas where this illegality has been recorded are T.I Ahmadiyya Senior High School (SHS), Asafo Market, Roman Hill, Asem, and Dunkirk.
Information available to The Chronicle has it that the heavy metallic covers, which are used to cover these drain chambers, are stolen and sold to scraps merchants. The repercussion is that removal of these items could cause vehicular traffic and accidents.
Intelligence available to this paper has it that this challenge started a couple of years back, but it has intensified lately, and the inability to provide enough street lights in Kumasi is fueling this crime.
In a discussion with the Assembly Member for Asem Electoral Area, Mr. Kusi Serebour, he admitted to this paper that his area had recorded quite a number of stolen drains chambers covers.
Serebour attributed the phenomenon to criminal scrap scavengers, adding that he had informed the Zongo Police Station and some arrests had been made to that effect.
He added that the appropriate offices such as the GWCL and the likes had been informed about the issue.
Serebour disclosed during a phone interview that this challenge was not only associated with his electoral area, but all over the Metropolis.
He expressed optimism about immediate steps being taken by these organisations to address the challenge before an accident occurred.
Asked about the functionality of streetlights on the said roads which had come under attack, the Asem Assembly Member argued that those in his electoral area were functioning, including those of Labour roundabout-Jubilee Park.
With the Assembly Member argued that those in his electoral area were functioning, including those of Labour roundabout for Asafo, Mr. Ernest Okai, he confirmed to this paper that he was battling a similar challenge.
Okai disclosed that road drain chamber covers, which belonged to telecommunication companies at Arhmadiyya roundabout and Asafo Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SNNIT) had all been stolen, describing it as a worrying situation.
He expressed concern that despite the numerous security cameras in his area people manage to commit crimes and get away with them.
Okai said: “I think the security agencies, especially the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), Police Service and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) must be up and doing, because I am so surprised that in the face of the cameras, which were installed at vantage points, people are still committing crimes.”
According to Ernest, at Asafo he personally provided one cover over a gutter, which was under a street camera, but the metal was stolen.
He queried: “Up till now, no arrest has been made; what is the essence of the street camera over there?”
He has, therefore, raised concern about the functionality of the security cameras in his electoral area.
When The Chronicle contacted the Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the GWCL, Ebenezer Padi Narh, he could not tell whether the Company was aware of the challenge, and gave an assurance to get back, but as at the time of filing this story Padi Narh was yet to update this paper.
Speaking to the Ashanti Regional Director of Urban Roads, Mr. Francis Gambrah, he admitted to this paper that indeed these incidents had been ongoing in Kumasi, citing the Labour stretch as the latest road to have come under attack by these hoodlums.
Gambrah indicated to The Chronicle that the appropriate quarters had been informed about the ongoing crime.
He expressed worry as to why such challenges were taking place on major roads, but people were unable to assist in curbing them.
Quizzed if these drain chamber covers were relevant to modern road construction, he responded in the affirmative, saying they played a role in the drainage systems and were also used by utility companies such as the GWCL.
In an attempt to speak to the Ashanti Regional Police Command for an update on the arrests made by the Zongo Police Station, a number of calls and text messages were sent to the Public Relations Officer, ASP Godwin Ahiayor, but he failed to respond.
