The Ministry of Energy has announced it is reviewing the policy on maintenance of streetlights to ensure that the country’s roads are better illuminated. A critical aspect of the review is the amount of money set aside for maintenance. Electricity consumers currently contribute a mere fraction of a pesewa towards the maintenance of streetlights. At about two million customers, the Electricity Company of Ghana says this is woefully inadequate as it does not even cover the cost of keeping the street lights lit. Deputy Energy Minister, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini told journalists at a news conference that no agency is willing to accept responsibility for streetlights maintenance because of the low tariffs. “People are pushing responsibility to whoever they think can bear it and that is why we are coming out with a policy to ensure that we pay realistic tariffs for the maintenance of street lights. When that is done, we will properly locate the responsibility within the district assemblies and then they will have the money to maintain the street light and we can hold them responsible for [any lapses],” he said. The Minister outlined several street lighting projects being undertaken in all the regional capitals. He is however urging members of the public to report theft and vandalism of streetlight infrastructure. Source: Joy News/Ghana