Even traffic lights in front of police headquarters are being stolen — Roads Minister
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has raised concerns over the increasing vandalism of traffic infrastructure across the country.
He revealed that even traffic lights installed in front of the national police headquarters have not been spared.
According to the Minister, the destruction and theft of traffic light components remain a major challenge affecting road safety and traffic management nationwide.
He said the situation has contributed significantly to the large number of malfunctioning traffic lights across the country.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, June 10, the Adaklu MP disclosed that a substantial number of the country's traffic lights are currently operational despite persistent acts of vandalism.
"About 415 traffic lights across the country, over 60% are working. Many times when you see the traffic lights not working, it is on many occasions deliberate where people go and vandalize the chambers," he said.
The Minister explained that some individuals target traffic light installations, remove metal components and sell them as scrap, causing extensive damage to the systems.
He added that in some instances, motorists crash into traffic lights and flee the scene, leaving behind destruction that often costs more to repair than the value of the vehicles involved.
"Some people actually vandalize the chambers and take the metal components and sell them as scrap metals, and then sometimes vehicles drive into them and then run away. The value of the vehicles are less than sometimes the value of the things they've damaged, and this is widespread," he stated.
Agbodza further appealed to the public to assist authorities by reporting acts of vandalism to help protect critical road infrastructure.