bringing the issue of streets lights to the notice of the House.
Mr. Speaker, the issue of street lights is very, very important and there is the need for us to address it. Mr. Speaker, the sad part of this issue, to me, is when you go to areas where you think that there is the need for us to have street lights and those are the areas that are in total darkness. And by this I am referring to communities and towns that sacrificed for this nation to have these national assets, like the dams.
Mr. Speaker, if one goes to a town like Natriku and Akuse where the Kpong Dam is located -- even though it is in Akuse these are towns that are in darkness. And one goes there and asks, “why?” If towns like these, sacrificing for this nation, would live in total darkness then what are we actually referring to? So I want to suggest that the issue of solar street lights be introduced so that at least we can have lots of lights in our streets.
The issue of solar street lights must be addressed so that, that would also lift the burden off the hydro generating plant. But I want to say that communities that are sacrificing for this nation must be looked at.
On this note, towns in the Lower Volta Basin that are suffering as a result of the creation of these dams must be assisted to have street lights. Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important for us to address this issue in the various communities.
Minister of State (Mr. Kwadwo Adjei-
Darko): Mr. Speaker, in contributing to the Statement I want us to look at the aspect of the provision of street lights in different dimensions.
Mr. Speaker, we would all accept and agree that Government should include in its programme of street rehabilitation and
construction the provision of street lights. I think modern streets which are being constructed in Accra are all going to have lights as part of the package. But I would want us to look at the other streets in our communities within the urban areas and cities because that is where we have the residential flats and so on.
Mr. Speaker, it looks as if developers would want Government to do everything even where developers after putting up their flats give them out for rent or sell them at very high prices.
Mr. Speaker, we now have a technology instead of stringing the fifth additional wire to provide the street light, there is the photocell; and a complete locally- built street light with a photocell is about ¢650,000.00. The imported one is about ¢900,000.00 at these companies which sell these materials. And we should encourage developers who have various poles in front of their houses to include the cost of just one street light with a photocell, which is about ¢650,000.00, as part of their development cost.
So that if I have my house here and in front of my house, I have just put one, and the next person who has a pole in front of his house puts another one, the whole length of the street would have light; but we are leaving everything to Government. Yes, Government should come in but some of us especially those who are developers, should at least include this as part of their development cost.
Mr. Speaker, I will give an example. Where I stay now -- government accommodation -- it is very dark but through my own efforts I have installed four street lights there and it is serving everybody along the Passport Office area.
So Mr. Speaker, we should not leave everything to Government. I did not say
tenants should do it. If you are a developer and you can put up a house to the tune of ¢800 million, ¢1 billion, why can you not just include ¢650,000.00 as part of its cost so they can give a little bit comfort to people who live in their houses?
Mr. Speaker, the other issue I want to
raise is on this question of maintenance. The Northern Electrification Department under Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Electricity Company in the sourthern sector make people pay ‘street light levy' and up to now we do not know who is in charge of this street light levy -- whether or not it goes to the Assemblies. If the amount added to our bills every month is given to these Assemblies then the Assemblies should also use some of these monies to extend street lights within their areas of jurisdiction, and also use some of these monies in addition to their budgetary allocations, for maintenance.
So perhaps the Electricity Company of Ghana for the sourthern sector and VRA through the Northern Electrification Division in the northern sector should account to us as to what the street light levy is used for so that we can move ahead.
Mr. Joe Gidisu (NDC -- Central
Tongu): Mr. Speaker, I want to thank hon. Colleagues for expressing positive views about the need for street lighting at this time. But Mr. Speaker, I want to take a different dimension in looking at the situation, more especially when the country is passing through this energy crisis.
Mr. Speaker, yes, there is the need for lighting our streets but in so doing there is the need for us to be more strategic in looking at areas that would need those lights on at specific times. Mr. Speaker, even as at now in our homes and in our
communities the Electricity Company is calling us to put off lights which we may not need at a particular time.
In this time of crisis there is the need for us to look at even the extension of electricity on the Motorway from the Tema Roundabout to the Tetteh Quarshie Circle -- at this time when we are crying for energy conservation. Mr. Speaker, at particular times there may be the need for us to look at very important areas that may need light but just for the sake of appeasing visitors we might want to cut our noses to straighten our faces by way of stretching ourselves in providing street lights at those areas, more especially on the Motorway.
So Mr. Speaker, I want to say that, yes, there is the need for us to look at how best to light our streets. But at this particular time in our history when we are calling for very stringent and more economical approach towards the use of electricity, be a bit conservative on the issue of extending light to the streets.
I want to equally associate myself with the hon. Member who spoke last, who was calling for at least individuals in communities where we live to see how best we could generate our own support to the lighting system, by the central pool, which would go a long way to provide light.
And Mr. Speaker, the situation of the Electricity Company of Ghana taking street light levy but up till now we do not significantly see the use of that money -- I would want to say that the Parliamentary Committee on Energy should go further into it just like they did with the Road Fund and find out how effectively the deductions would be used to strengthen the provision of street lights; otherwise it would be in the negative direction if we continue to tow that line.
