The Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Nasir Ahmed Yartey has set the record straight on the maintenance of streetlights.
He emphasized that local authorities are responsible for maintaining faulty streetlights not the Ministry. According to Yartey, a legal framework clearly assigns the upkeep of streetlights to local assemblies in whose jurisdictions they are located.
Mr Yartey cited the August 2011 Policy Document, which outlines the Ministry’s framework for streetlights.
“Specifically, Section 4 of the document clearly states that local authorities are responsible for the ownership and maintenance of streetlights, setting the policy direction for their upkeep.”
According to Yartey, the Ministry of Roads and Highways only takes responsibility for installing streetlights during road construction projects. However, once the project is complete, the local assemblies take over.