Through an intervention by the Member of Parliament hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Tamale South Constituency, the Al-Sofwan Electrical Engineering Company Limited on Wednesday moved to site to replace a total number of 142 street lights along the Dabokpa/Kalariga highway to the Lamashegu roundabout in the Tamale metropolis.
The CUSTODIAN understand that an amount of over two million Ghana cedis is used to replace the nonfunctioning lamps with funding support from the one million US dollar per constituency policy which is implemented by the Northern Development Authority (NDA) through the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP).
The street light system in the area has been off and dormant for several months or more and left unattended to giving way for criminals to carry out their illicit activities and also attack pedestrians and motorist using the stretch at night.
More so, road accidents often happen on the stretch due to the darkness at night making visibility difficult for road users with pedestrians exposed to all manner of dangers making the road unsafe and unfit for purpose.
This is a major economic road connecting several communities to the Tamale – Kumasi highway.
The Contractor of Al-Sofwan Electrical Engineering Company Limited working on the project, Mr. Alhassan Sofwan said they are replacing the old incandescent lamps to LED bulbs, explaining that this is to reduce the high rate of electricity consumption in the community.
He added the project when completed will open up visibility on the road so that criminals can no longer hide to attack unsuspecting road users at night. Mr. Sofwan indicated that the contract also include replacing the underground cables to enable the lamps function.
He promised to complete the project in less than a week for people to begin enjoying the facility.
Meanwhile, for his part Hon Yakubu Yussif said the project when completed will contribute to enhance issues security and safety in the community and its adjoining areas.
He underscored the importance of street lightening in every community, stressing that this intervention is in the positive direction to mitigate the challenges of the people.
The NPP Parliamentary Candidate expressed confidence the type of LED lamps used will bring permanent solution to the problem that has persisted for almost two years.
According to him, the exercise took time to start because the contract was working carefully to ensure all technical issues that are associated with the project are rectified permanently, reiterating his confidence that once it is being done a permanent solution is given to the issue.
Aside the street lightening exercise, Mr. Yakubu Yussif disclosed that there is an ongoing construction of wall around the Kalariga age-long cemetery to prevent people to encroach the land.
He added a classroom block has also been completed at the Dabokpa Technical and Vocational SHS all under the initiative one million dollar per constituency promised made by President Nana Akufo-Addo in 2016.
