By Bernice Bessey
The Ga West Municpal Assembly (GWMA), Amasaman, in collaboration with the community of Ofankor, have demolished a building, which according to them, poses as a threat to human lives. Other buildings have been marked by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly for demolition.
According to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Samuel Atukwei Quaye, the Assembly demolished the building due to public out-cry and the risk it poses to human life.
In a telephone interview with The Chronicle, the MCE indicated that the owner of the building didn’t seek the Assembly’s approval before embarking on the supposed 5-storey building, which would house stores and residences.
Mr. Quaye said the Assembly was quick to demolish because passengers, traders, hawkers, drivers, school children and other people who visit the area seek refuge under the building, due to its closeness to the Accra-Nsawam road.
He noted that even without a technical eye, one could easily tell that the building was made up of sub-standard materials, noting: “the building was hazardous and poses security threat to the people.”
“Following complains from the community, the Assembly even invited the owner and explained to her the danger the building was posing to the public,” he added.
In a related development, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has identified another uncompleted storey building at Kissehman that poses danger to mankind.
The AMA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, has ordered the said uncompleted building to be demolished within 48 hours to save lives that would perish as a result of poor works done by contractors.
According to the Metro Works Director, Victor Mensah, the said building belongs to one Mavis Akua Serwah, who was not present at the time the Mayor and Assembly members visited.
The building, as it stood, doesn’t need a technical expert or fortune teller to predict the future consequences it will bring to nearby residents.
The skeleton structure exposed iron rods, concrete stone, cracks on the walls and columns not in line, as well as decks caving in. The three-storey building would be pulled down due to its weak stature.
Dr. Vanderpuije told the media that the existence of the building was brought to his attention by the Works department of the Assembly, during their inspection of building in the metropolis.
He said the demolition of the edifice was a collective decision and advice by structural engineers.
“Developers must ascertain a permit before any development project. This building is not safe, it must be demolished within the next 48 hours,” he ordered.
The Mayor further inspected some buildings at Darkuma Nhakye, Vineyard and flattop and even made arrest of some labourers that were still at work at the respective sites, although the Assembly has issued ‘stop work’ notice.
The mayor closed down the Accra Royal School (ATECO) for not observing the ‘stop work’ instructions by the Assembly.