By Isaac Arkoh, GNA
Cape Coast June 26, GNA -The Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA) has established two ad‑hoc committees to find lasting solutions to recurring flooding and the collapse of buildings in the ancient city.
The committees were tasked with identifying all dilapidated structures, instituting urgent demolition and resettlement measures for affected residents and restoring the city’s historic beauty.
Their mandate is hinged on preventing further loss of life and property and to preserve Cape Coast’s cultural and architectural heritage for future generations.
The first 10‑member group, mandated to identify and demolish dilapidated structures, is chaired by Mr Enoch Adjei Okpoti, Director of Urban Roads.
The members include Mr Ebenezer Osra of the Physical Planning Department, Mr Emmanuel Forson, Metro Environmental Health Officer, Mr Okine, Hydro Engineer and Mr David Owu, Metro Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation.
The team also comprised Mr Emmanuel Brew, a representative from the Waste Management sector, Mr Dennis Larweh of Cape Coast South Sub‑Metro, Mr Emmanuel Ganyo of Cape Coast North Sub‑Metro, Mr Joseph Botchwey, Head of the City Guards and Mr Douglas Danquah, Administrator with CCMA.
The second committee, a five‑member unit responsible for resettlement and restoration of victims, is chaired by Mr Lawrence B Botchwey, a Quantity Surveyor.
Its members are Mr Ebenezer Osra of Physical Planning, Mr Martins Ahorli, Head of Waste Management, Mr Michael Allotey, Metro Finance Officer and Mr Stephen Kyei, Metro Budget Analyst.
Under their terms of reference, the committees are to determine the number of people living in dilapidated houses, identify suitable resettlement sites and develop funding proposals for the displaced.
They are also to identify structures built on waterways, check whether permits had been secured for those structures and schedule removal of structures that needed immediate demolition.
In addition, they are to identify buildings suitable for restoration for tourism purposes, develop a drainage master plan for the Assembly, carry out desilting and expansion of drains and conduct community sensitisation.
Mr George Justice Arthur, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, announced the measures at a press conference on Thursday, while outlining the Assembly’s interventions following heavy rains on Friday, June 19, disasters.
The torrential rains, accompanied by strong winds, collapsed 10 houses mostly mud structures, killing four people including three children, with one person reported missing.
It also uprooted trees and flooded many areas including Ekon, Abura, Ameen Sangari, DVLA/Nokaans, Eyifua, Mpeasem, Adisadel, Nkanfoa, Asenadze, the University of Cape Coast environs and other locations that had rarely flooded previously.
Outlining some causes of building collapses and flooding, Mr Arthur cited over‑aged mud buildings, some 100–250 years old and lacking proper maintenance, construction on waterways and improper waste disposal.
To resolve the challenges, he said the Assembly was committed to expanding major storm drains at Kru Town; desilting drains at Aquarium, Akyim, Abura, Cape Tech, Ekon and the 3rd Ridge junction and Frimps Filling Station area.
He pledged to demolish structures sited in unauthorised locations at Adisadel, Idan Brofoyedur, London Bridge and Amissa‑Ekyir.
Also, he said the Assembly will intensify sensitisation on proper waste disposal and maintenance of old structures while enforcing by‑laws with strong technical backing from the University of Cape Coast.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey /Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Isaac Arkoh