The Asokwa Interchange, a multimillion‑euro two‑tier road project in Kumasi, is being stripped of its metal crash barriers by scrap scavengers.
Thieves have been unscrewing bolts and taking away the steel guardrails that line the pedestrian walkway, leaving the upper tier “highly exposed” to falls and to vehicles that could veer off the road .
The Regional Urban Roads Director, Na‑eem Iddrisu, says the theft is “systemic” and has already been reported to the Oforikrom Police Station; a scrap dealer was found in possession of some of the stolen pieces . Residents describe the perpetrators as people who work under the cover of darkness, sometimes disguised as mentally unstable individuals carrying sacks . Because the barriers are meant to protect both pedestrians and motorists, their removal creates a “death trap” that could cause serious injury or fatalities if not repaired quickly .
Authorities have promised remedial action: the Asokwa Municipal Assembly is urged to “salvage” the site, and the Urban Roads Directorate says it will add the repairs to its programme, including replacing damaged barriers and improving drainage to reduce flooding . The incident also highlights a broader problem across the Ashanti Region, where similar thefts have been reported on other major highways, prompting calls for stronger police patrols and public vigilance .
