By Emmanuel Gamson
Takoradi, June 19, GNA – The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Directorate of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has conducted a final assessment of the structural integrity of some 88 weak and dilapidated structures earmarked for demolition or renovation within the metropolis.
The structures included residential buildings, and commercial facilities that had been identified as dangerous and posed safety risks for the people living or working around them.
The assessment was conducted in collaboration with officials from the Metro Works Department, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), and Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) among others.
Alhaji Kamal Abubakar, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metro NADMO Director, said during the exercise that their assessment revealed structural defects in some of the buildings, including serious cracks and severe deteriorating conditions, rendering them unsafe and dangerous for public safety.
He said: “We conducted an exercise late last year where we identified some 88 buildings within the metropolis that we earmarked as dangerous and dilapidated, and needed some works to be done on them.”
He noted that the final assessment exercise was to determine which buildings required some remedies in terms of renovations, or total demolition to ensure public safety.
Alhaji Abubakar said: “We have brought the experts to carry out this assessment tests on the builds and after this, we will fully implement their recommendations as to whether a structure must be totally demolished or renovated for human habitation.”
He stated that notices had been served to the identified property owners in line with the Organisation’s enforcement mechanisms, however, some were resisting the process.
He, therefore, called on the affected individuals and the general public to cooperate with the authorities to execute their mandates to successfully address any potential hazards associated with the weak structures.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga /Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Emmanuel Gamson