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INCESSANT robbery attacks due to the non-functional streetlights in the Kaneshie electoral area have put residents and business operators in a state of fear.

The area, which houses a number of restaurants and the Cocoa Clinic, has become a target for robbers due to the dysfunctional streetlights over the past six months.

According to the residents, robbers possessed guns and knives with which they attacked them.

Some traders, operating in the area, told The Ghanaian Times, that they were forced to close their shops early as a result of the current situation.

Ms. Susan Adams, owner of Padish Restaurant, said her business was suffering due to the situation, because customers, who patronised her services in the night, no longer do so for fear of being attacked by robbers.

She said she had been robbed of her sales on a number of occasions and was compelled to close earlier than her usual time.

Mr. Eugene Odame, a computer hardware specialist, who lived at Mantse Boi Street, area, blamed the situation on infrequent police patrols in the area.

He also said police checkpoints, which used to be mounted earlier in the evening had been moved late into the night, which gave room for criminals to operate.

“The police barrier used to be mounted around 8pm, but now they come as late as 12 midnight and do not stay long to check suspected criminals or even patrol the area,” Mr. Odame lamented.

A chief who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the residents had complained about the situation to the authorities but to no avail, therefore “residents just had to find means of protecting their lives and property”.

When contacted, the chairman of the Okaikoi South sub-metro and Assembly Member for the Kaneshie electoral area, Mr. Tagoe Ishmael Ayitey, said his attention had been drawn to the issue, and the assembly was working to address the problem.

He said the streetlights had not been fixed due to financial constraints, adding that the assembly would hold discussions with the police to deal with the situation.