Mentally ill persons have taken over the streets of Kumasi metropolis in the Ashanti Region raising concerns about the safety of pedestrians and road users.

Residents say one is likely to find a lunatic roaming the streets within every 100-metre interval; the activities of these mentally deranged persons had become a nuisance to them, and have thus called on city authorities to act swiftly.

Some of the inhabitants complained about the nuisance and danger such persons pose to them adding that Kumasi is fast deviating from its claim to fame as the Garden City of Ghana.

Otecnews Reporter Mabel Fosu, reports that it is unknown where the naked and dangerously looking mentally retarded persons are coming from.

Some of the residents who spoke to Mabel Fosu indicated that they sometimes have to protect themselves from attacks from the mental patients. Families have refused to cater for them while the state lacks rehabilitation structures for them.

Speaking to Otecnews in an interview, the Public Relation Officer for Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Mr Godwin Okumah Nyame admitted that his outfit is aware of the challenge and is seriously working hard to get rid of the lunatics who have recently invaded the market.

He lamented that some have occupied places created for pedestrians and even vehicles; a situation according to Mr Okumah Nyame is hampering free movement.

Our sources say, the Department of Social Welfare has not been able to rid the Kumasi Metropolis of lunatics due to the lack of adequate resources.

An anonymous Officer at the Department who spoke to Otecnews said “ridding the metropolis of lunatics has become the biggest problem facing the Social Welfare Department,” explaining that non-availability of means of transport, the department had difficulties in conveying lunatics to the psychiatric hospitals.