Authorities have intensified their clampdown on unsafe structures in Accra, with the Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Michael Kpakpo Allotey, warning that buildings sited in waterways will be demolished as part of ongoing enforcement measures.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the Mayor said a strengthened task force made up of personnel from the police, Fire Service, the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), and the AMA has been deployed across various parts of the capital to identify and remove dangerous structures.
He revealed that during one of the inspection exercises, officials came across a building reportedly belonging to Ernest Chemist, noting that the assembly would engage the company over a possible demolition.
“We will engage them today on a possible demolition, and if they refuse, we will go to court for an order,” he said, adding that the assembly is determined to avoid any future judgment debts.
The Mayor stressed that the ongoing exercise targets all structures considered unsafe, including cracked, dilapidated, and abandoned buildings, as well as those posing a risk to public safety.
“We are demolishing all houses with cracks, dilapidated structures, and all those that pose danger to the public,” he stated firmly.
He also issued a strong warning to individuals building or buying property in waterways, insisting that such developments would not be spared.
“People are still building and buying lands in waterways. We will demolish all of them. They should start packing because it is not because of them that water flow will be blocked and we will be experiencing flooding,” he cautioned.
According to him, many of the affected structures do not even have the required building permits, a situation he described as a major contributor to the problem.
He explained that the permitting process is straightforward but often ignored by developers.
“When you buy land, you have to go through the process to secure the permit. It will take less than a month,” he said.
He added that applicants are required to submit site plans to the assembly, after which technical teams including the EPA, Fire Service, and the assembly conduct site inspections. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), he noted, also carries out soil testing before approval is granted.
“Citizens must follow due diligence,” he stressed, urging compliance with planning regulations to prevent future demolitions and safety risks.
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