While many Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across Ghana struggle to illuminate their streets at night, the Bogoso Zonal Council in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality has made remarkable progress, achieving approximately 90% streetlight coverage on its major roads.
This achievement has significantly improved safety and security, while also fostering business growth in the area.
The Zonal Councils, which consist of Assembly Members, Unit Committee Members, Opinion Leaders, and volunteer groups, play a vital role in community governance. Prestea Huni Valley Municipality boasts seven Zonal Councils, with Bogoso standing out for its proactive efforts in ensuring well-lit streets to reduce the risk of robberies and violent crimes.
Under the leadership of Evans Aboah, Chairman of the Bogoso Zonal Council, the initiative has been hailed as a model of success, demonstrating how local action can directly enhance public safety and economic activity in the area.
“We’ve shared the responsibility among ourselves by forming a committee to ensure the streetlights are functioning properly. If a bulb isn’t working, we replace it, and the costs are forwarded to the Assembly. As a mining community, we recognize the importance of maintaining streetlights to prevent criminal activities that thrive in darkness. We prioritize keeping the lights on and in perfect condition to ensure the community’s safety and security.” He stated.
The impact on business is quite profound. It’s around 9 pm and this is the Bogoso main station. Evans and his sister Maggi sell footwear and fruits here. They say they now feel safe to sell at night.
“The streetlights greatly benefit us in two ways. Firstly, they enhance security, allowing us to detect if someone is carrying something suspicious, giving us the opportunity to intervene. Secondly, they boost our sales, as our business primarily operates at night. The illumination attracts customers, and we rely on the streetlights to showcase our products.
When the lights go out, we struggle to attract customers, and our sales suffer. In such cases, we’re forced to relocate to other areas with better lighting, which isn’t ideal.” He mentioned.
He talks about the Assembly’s plans to sustain the initiative through a collaborative effort with the community.
“The Assembly has procured a substantial number of streetlights and accessories, ensuring adequate materials are available. Whenever a request is made, we promptly issue the necessary materials. Our team, including electricians and workers, then installs and maintains the streetlights. Additionally, we have a comprehensive operation and maintenance plan in place. By following this plan, we aim to keep the streetlights functioning in most communities, ensuring continuous illumination and safety,” he explained.
SOURCE: http://3news.com
