Let’s all fight crime — President Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has stated that it is the responsibility of all citizens to check crime, instead of leaving that on the shoulders of only the government and state agencies.
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He said it was unfortunate that people sometimes looked on when crimes were being committed in broad daylight and yet turned round to accuse the government and state agencies of doing nothing at all.
Making reference to the fact that thieves had allegedly stolen all the light bulbs along the George Walker Bush Highway, President Mahama said it would cost the government GH¢400,000 to replace the bulbs.
The bulbs removed from along a kilometre stretch of the highway, popularly referred to as the NI, were installed last year.
Stealing in broad daylight
President Mahama was speaking at a church service to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra at the Independence Square in Accra yesterday.
The service was intended to thank God for the growth of the church in Accra.
The Accra Archdiocese of the Catholic Church was established in 1893.
About 5,000 Catholic faithful attended the service, which was interspersed with music and enthusiastic dancing.
It was also attended by dignitaries, including the First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama; former President John Agyekum Kufuor and his wife, Mrs Theresa Kufuor.
President Mahama expressed worry over thievery on the highway and other crimes.
“What is more disturbing is the fact that the commission of the crime was in broad daylight, while motorists drove past the criminals,” the President lamented.
“The criminals used a hoisting vehicle because the bulbs are high on the light poles and they did it in broad daylight. I am sure many of you drove past them, assuming they were repairing the light or replacing the bulbs,” he said.
“As we develop the nation, other unpatriotic citizens are busy turning the hand of the clock. What happened to our sense of selflessness and patriotism?” he asked.
He stated that the quest to build the nation was the responsibility of all and that all citizens needed to play their part to ensure that “we build a desirable nation”.
Solar panels removed
President Mahama also lamented that a number of solar panels used for the street lighting along the recently constructed GIMPA-Fiesta Royale Hotel road had “also been stolen by some criminals”.
That road links GIMPA to the NI highway and the stealing of the solar panels and bulbs along it has rendered the road dark, which has made it difficult for motorists to use it at night.
“This is a worrying trend,” the President said, adding that that development would slow down the development of the nation if not checked.
Early this year, some unidentified persons removed the solar panels which were used as an alternative to electricity-powered street lights on the GIMPA road.
The panels were stolen less than a year after they had been installed, in line with a Department of Urban Roads (DUR) pilot project to test the efficiency of solar energy to power street lights.
The DUR has been making efforts to replace the stolen panels and it has also been considering ways to protect the panels from being stolen.
