Barely 10 months after its inauguration, the Obetsebi Lamptey Interchange in Accra has suffered major vandalism, with nearly 1,000 metal components stolen, exposing motorists and pedestrians to serious risks.
According to the Resident Engineer, Owusu Sekyere Antwi, a total of 964 safety gadgets, including spacer blocks, bolts, nuts, washers, reflectors, U-connectors, hand railings, and head plates, have been removed from the structure. He described the theft as “huge” and a matter of national security.
Officials revealed that the missing components were not locally available and would have to be imported for replacement, complicating the process of restoring safety to the interchange.
Mr. Antwi explained that although 96 percent of the project has been completed, the theft undermines the final phase of works, which includes road line markings, installation of traffic lights, and the construction of a pedestrian footbridge.
The vandalism is believed to have occurred gradually, with thieves breaking welds and dismantling bolts over several visits. One suspect, Yaw Asare, has already been arrested and prosecuted, but authorities fear a wider network may be involved.
Mr. Antwi urged stronger public vigilance and police action, including raids on scrap depots, to deter further thefts. “Protecting this infrastructure is the responsibility of all of us,” he stressed.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
Do you have a story to share? Send it to our editorial team at editor@wesleyannews.com
