“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matters” as Martin Luther King said. It’s very pathetic that our leaders want to be criticised before taking actions. Ghanaians as well as Berekum will always complain.It’s obvious that our country (Ghana) has no proper management for our traffic lights especially Berekum in the Bono Region. If indeed we have a plan for our roads safety, then why this? The question everyone is asking: who monitors the traffic lights.The traffic lights are supposed to bring sanity on our roads by controlling congratulations and motor accidents. And it’s somebody’s responsibility to ensure that they are in good condition at all times. But are they really being monitored and serving the purpose for which they were mounted?As of January 2018, statistics from the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) indicated that 1,071 road crashes had occurred with 180 deaths, leaving 1,171 with various degree of injuries.These accidents were blamed on blatant disregard for road regulations by drivers, as well as road infrastructural failures including traffic lights.Traffic management and safety which includes; street lights, Road Signs, Crush barriers and Pedestrian guardrails, Road Line Marking, Speed Rumps, Erection and Repair of Bollards, installation of traffic signals, Removal of directional signs, walkway construction, intersection improvement and Horticultural works ( grass planting) are to promote traffic decongestion on our roads.WHAT DAMAGES TRAFFIC LIGHT?The Department of Urban Roads (DUR) identified vandalising controllers, stealing of cables and throwing refuse into controllers are some of the challenges affecting the functions of traffic lights.Drivers and other road users also crash down traffic lights which cause it not to function.Not too surprising, though, all the traffic lights in Berekum are no longer functioning. That has been the situation on all major roads across the country street lights mounted as part of the road projects have become white elephant.But the situation of traffic lights in Berekum has got out of hands. Not even a single bulb of the traffic lights works. There are two traffic intersections in Berekum, one at a place called “round about nketoa mu”,and the other one is on the Berekum – Sunyani road.Base on research, the traffic light at “round about nketoa mu” has stopped functioning for seven good years. Fortunately unfortunate, the one on Berekum-Sunyani road has not been active for more than a year and now still counting. But “it always seems impossible until it’s done” as the former president for South Africa, Nelson Mandela, said.Drivers in Berekum have bemoaned that, due to the in activeness of the traffic light, they find it difficult when driving in town. They said, because that, roads are always congested with and it can takea driver for about 30minutes to one hour to leave Berekum lorry terminal after loading.They continue that, ” we drive with experience and also faster drivers always get the chance to pass through traffic intersections.Motors are constantly colliding with each other since there’s no Police personal at the traffic points to instruct drivers and riders when to pass and stop. Motor operators are force to find a way through for themselves.On the side of citizens, it always difficult for them to cross the streets. Of course I not come across any Pedestrian crossing in Berekum henceforth, it will not be easy for pedestrians when crossing the road when drivers and riders are in a harry to find their way.I have been observed that, it can take about 10-15minutes for someone to cross the streets of Berekum unless a driver sacrifices his chance for you.If this continues, pedestrians are likely to be knocked by motors when crossing.Not too long ago, on Friday 19th April,2019, A Berekum-Drobo taxi driver’s lip was bit off by a pragya (Okada) rider for causing the road to be congested at the intersection called “round about nketoa mu”.If there was at that time, someone (police) directing traffic or the traffic was functioning, the road won’t be congested for that tragedy to be occurred.Who is responsible for the maintenance of road safety equipments? It is the duty of the District/Municipal Assembly, the Ghana Highway Authority or the Department of Urban Roads (DUR)?ACP( retired) Tandoh, a retired boss of Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Police (MTTD), revealed in an online news that, it was expected of a driver who crash down a traffic light to report to the police for investigations after which the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) takes over to replace the traffic light.The MTTD is responsible for arresting drivers who breaks down the traffic lights. Surprisingly, the MTTD, despite being at most junctions and intersections often seems not to have an upper hand in monitoring traffic lights.The Department of Urban Roads (DUR) again stated that they are responsible for allocating funds and maintaining the traffic light, while private firms on contract manage it.Thus, the DUR, the MTTD, the GHA and other private all admit to play a role in ensuring safety on our roads. Despite all these, however, the condition of traffic in the country especially Berekum is still nothing to write home about. So once again, I ask, who is responsible for maintaining traffic lights on our roads.Berekum has a lot of prominent personalities, the likes of, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, former chairman for Electoral Commission of Ghana, CPT. Rtd. Nkrabea Effa Darteh, former Member of parliament (MP) for Berekum, Hon. Kwabena Twum Nuama, MP for Berekum East, Hon. Kwaku Agyenim Boateng, MP for Berekum West, and many more.Upon all the big names stated names stated above, Berekum is still not progressing.What is the Assembly contributing for the municipality to achieve it goals. In the COMPOSITE BUDGET FOR 2018 – 2021 PROGRAMME BASED BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR 2018 BEREKUM MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY, it stated clearly that ” the vision of the Berekum Municipal Assembly is to become a well-place and resourcd Local Government Authority which is able to improve upon the living StaMArd and quality of life of its people in an enabling environment for good governance and overall development of the municipality”.PART B of the the Composite Budget for 2018 – 2021, point two of Policy objectives also stated that, is objective for the Municipal Assembly “to create and sustain an efficient and effective transport system that meets user needs”.This indicates that the Berekum Municipal Assembly has a role to play in the maintenance of traffic lights. Now I throw a challenge to the the Assembly to come out with plans that will put sanity on Berekum roads( especially the traffic lights)Nananom of Berekum, arise youth wings, wake up and be on your feet stakeholders, let’s all fight to build the “Golden City”.This is not a matter of politics, it’s for the benefits of Berekum. Let’s all political parties, ethnic groups, religions, come together and find solutions for this problem ones and for all.Let’s all unite and revive the good name of Berekum. Together we stand, divided we fall. “Be a citizen but not a spectator” as President Akufo-Addo said.