Before the recent collapse in Accra New Town, Mohammed Awal, the Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) for Accra New Town, had warned people against living in hazardous structures, according to the municipal chief executive (MCE).
The warning comes after a terrible event on Sunday, March 29, when an unfinished structure on the grounds of Accra New Town Experimental Basic School—which is also used by Christian worshippers—fell, killing three people and injuring many others.
Mr. Awal informed JoyNews on March 30 that NADMO had not received any official notification about the building before it fell. Despite signals that the MCE had warned people to avoid the facility, the incident brought the issue to the attention of the group. He pointed out that it was challenging to ascertain the building’s structural integrity in advance because it was still unfinished. It is hard to determine the stability of incomplete buildings, especially when the project has not been completed or properly maintained.
Before the fall, Mr. Awal stressed that there had been no earlier report to warrant cordoning off the area. Official reports inform NADMO’s interventions, he said, and it’s hard to be proactive without that evidence.
Following the event, he highlighted the necessity for greater inspections throughout the town, notably in buildings of similar size and state. To avert potential disasters, authorities must make sure buildings are sound, which includes checking the strength of columns and other essential elements.
In response to worries about potential assembly lapses, Mr Awal refuted assertions that the assembly had failed, pointing out that the current administration has only been in office for a year and a half and has mostly relied on existing reports. He said that it would be unjust to determine that the assembly failed in its duties in the absence of earlier documentation emphasising dangers.
Additionally, he revealed that the city has two derelict buildings in Mallam Atta and two in Alajo, some of which are still inhabited. Efforts to protect these buildings, such as cordoning them off, have occasionally been jeopardised by the removal of caution tapes. All four buildings are scheduled for demolition because they are unsafe.
The event has increased worries about the safety of construction and the enforcement of regulations in Accra, leading to requests for better monitoring procedures and stricter adherence to prevent future disasters.
Source: myjoyonline.com
