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MMDAs urged to be vigilant on building permits
Accra, Feb. 12, GNA - Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Minister
of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, on
Monday said officials of Metropolitan, Municipal, and
District Assemblies (MMDAs) would henceforth be held
accountable for any lapses that should result in the
building sector.
This, he said, was because of the growing laxity in the
enforcement of planning and building regulations by MMDAs.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng said in a press statement that lack of
vigilance and laxity of MMDAs Works Departments in
monitoring of developments to enforce compliance were a
major contributory factor to the construction of such
substandard buildings/structures, which pose potential
danger to pubic.
He recounted how a four-storey building at Swalaba in Accra
collapsed in 2002 and a five-storey building at Asafo in
Kumasi late last year.
"It may be noted that cities and other human settlements are
the engines of growth of national economics when properly
managed to function effectively.
"The country, therefore, stands to achieve its goal of
poverty reduction and improvement of the living conditions
of the citizenry if there is proper and better monitoring of
physical development in all district assemblies."
Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the ministry would impose severe
sanctions on any staff of MMDAs for any lapses, acts of
omission and or commission in the performance of his/her
duties.
Similarly, any MMDA that fails in its duties will be held
accountable for any lapses as a result of ineffective
management, control and enforcement of planning and building
regulations, he said.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng said what was of grave concern to Cabinet
was the putting up of houses and other structures in
flood-prone and other environmentally sensitive areas,
without regard to the planning and building regulations.
"It is the considered view of the Ministry that an adequate
legislative environment exists for MMDAs to effectively
regulate and control all developments within their
jurisdiction.
"The Local Government Act 462 expressly confers development
planning, management and control responsibilities and
function on MMDAs and makes specific provisions for the
enforcement and control of physical developments within
their jurisdiction.
"These provisions are reinforced by the National Building
Regulations, 1996 LI 1630 which specify in detail standards
related to materials and management of building
constructions through all the stages of construction to
ensure that it is safe for occupation."
Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the problem was therefore that of
control and enforcement.
"Unfortunately some enforcement officials are reported to be
taking monetary rewards from builders and have therefore
neglected their responsibilities," he said, and cautioned
that it was a worrisome development that had the potential
to impact negatively on national development efforts.
GNA
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