Ghanaian Commuters and Transport Unions Raise Alarm Over Failing Streetlights at Achimota Forest and Aflao Border

Public safety concerns are mounting across major Ghanaian transit routes as non-functioning streetlights at the Achimota Forest stretch in Accra and the Aflao border in the Volta Region leave commuters vulnerable to criminal attacks and road accidents. In both locations, the lack of adequate illumination has transformed critical transport corridors into high-risk zones, prompting urgent calls for government intervention. Motorists and pedestrians describe a deteriorating security situation where the darkness provides cover for criminal activities, making nighttime travel a perilous endeavor for thousands of daily users.

In Accra, the stretch of road bordering the Achimota Forest has become a particular point of anxiety for motorists and pedestrians alike. The area, characterized by thick vegetation, suffers from poor visibility that significantly increases the risk of collisions involving speeding vehicles. Beyond traffic safety, residents report that the darkness has emboldened criminals who target unsuspecting commuters. Stakeholders are urgently calling on the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) and local municipal assemblies to move beyond temporary fixes and implement a robust maintenance schedule to ensure the streetlights remain functional.

Simultaneously, the security situation at the Aflao border has reached a breaking point, according to Emmanuel Kwasi Agbodeka, Secretary of the Cooperative Hiring Car Union. Despite its status as a designated security zone, the border area is reportedly plunged into darkness every night, facilitating harassment and violent assaults against travelers. Mr. Agbodeka revealed a tragic escalation in violence, citing a recent incident where a driver was killed while attempting to protect a passenger from attackers. Union leaders expressed frustration that while solutions have been proposed to local authorities, progress remains stalled while the safety of transport workers and the public remains compromised.

The overlapping crises in Accra and Aflao highlight a broader systemic failure in infrastructure upkeep and urban security management. In both instances, the demands from the public are clear: the immediate restoration of street lighting and a heightened presence of police patrols to deter criminal elements. As these transit points are vital to the country's economic and social fabric, authorities are under increasing pressure to prioritize these repairs to prevent further loss of life and restore public confidence in nighttime travel.