By Elizabeth Larkwor Baah, GNA
Tema, April 8, GNA – Mr. Charles Kisseih, a Civil Engineer, has attributed persistent cases of collapsed buildings to weak inspection of private construction projects by district engineers.
Mr Kisseih said district engineers were mandated to inspect building sites before construction begins to determine whether the proposed structure was suitable for the land, and where a building was found to be unsuitable, the engineer was expected to stop the project and offer appropriate technical advice.
He told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that district engineers were also required to conduct unannounced visits to construction sites to inspect materials and ensure that approved standards were followed, noting that the lack of effective enforcement of these responsibilities had contributed to poor construction practices.
“After you submit your plan and indenture, they are to pay a surprise visit to come and check the site and materials to check if the right things are being done; if not, they will ask you to stop,” he stated.
He expressed concern that many property owners had left construction work in the hands of masons and steel benders, some of whom take advantage of the owners’ limited technical knowledge.
He said this often resulted in the use of substandard or inappropriate materials, increasing the risk of structural failure.
Mr Kisseih indicated that district engineers tend to focus more on government projects, where they were likely to earn more, rather than private buildings owned by individuals in communities.
He added that many builders were cutting costs by using cheaper and unapproved materials, knowing that most property owners were unable to identify the right materials required for construction, and noted that district engineers were responsible for supervising construction and maintenance, as well as planning, designing, and implementing infrastructure projects.
He said they were also expected to ensure compliance with engineering standards and provide technical advice to district assemblies and communities, urging prospective builders to submit their building documents to district engineers for proper assessment and to ensure that approved materials were used throughout the construction process.
Mr Kisseih said strengthening inspection and enforcement mechanisms would help reduce cases of collapse and improve safety in the construction sector.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/George-Ramsey Benamba