News:
March 21, 2014
Member of Parliament for Wa East Hon. Ameen Salifu has called for a critical look at all permits granted for the construction of high rise buildings to ascertain whether they meet the required standards.
According to him, the structural integrity of these buildings should be critically assessed to determine whether the right materials have been used and that the building will not collapse at the slightest pressure or weight.
His statement made on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, comes on the heels of the collapse of a seven-storey hotel building at Nii Boi Town a fortnight ago which recorded one death while a number of people sustain various forms of injuries.
He stated that another issue which needed to be addressed is the general approach to planning, adding that people put up buildings indiscriminately at unauthorized places while the authorities look on, only for them to post notices of stop work when the building have reached the lintel level.
Hon. Ameen Salifu who is a Surveyor by profession therefore emphasized the need for the capacity of the Inspectorate Division to be enhanced to make it more effective to be able to conduct regular checks and monitoring while construction is in progress.
He noted that where the standards have not been met the officials involved, the owners of the building and contractors must be compelled to conform to the required standards.
The Wa East MP stressed that officials who condone and connive with owners of buildings to proceed with shoddy work irrespective of warning to desist from such acts must be severely reprimanded or prosecuted, while the unqualified contractors are prevented from putting up buildings.
He added that licenses of contractors who put up weak structures that do not conform to required standards must be banned or suspended.
Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh