The Sekondi–Takoradi Metropolitan Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has identified eighty-eight (88) structures within the metropolis for possible demolition following assessments that found them to pose varying levels of structural and public safety risk.
A structural integrity and risk assessment exercise undertaken by the Metropolitan NADMO office revealed extensive defects on several residential, commercial and institutional properties across the metropolis.
The defects included structural cracks, exposed reinforcement bars, deteriorated roofing systems, damaged openings and weakened building components, with some structures either abandoned or no longer fit for human habitation.
The affected properties include residential facilities, schools, recreational centres and commercial premises, some of which remain occupied by caretakers, squatters and property owners despite the apparent structural deficiencies.
Sekondi–Takoradi Metropolitan Director of NADMO, Alhaji Abubakar Kamal, disclosed that eighty-eight properties had so far been classified as unsafe and liable for demolition or remedial intervention.
According to him, notices have been served on identified property owners in line with the enforcement and public safety responsibilities of the Assembly and NADMO under the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) and the National Disaster Management Organisation Act, 2016 (Act 927).
“I must say the identification of these owners has been a challenge. But those we have identified, we have served them notices,” he stated.
Alhaji Kamal explained that while some structures require technical structural integrity assessments to determine their condition, others visibly exhibit severe deterioration that presents an immediate hazard to life and property.
“Honestly, some of them on the face of what you see may appear dangerous and dilapidated but we need some integrity tests to confirm what we have seen. However, for some you don’t need to do any integrity checks. So, in both instances we are now working to ensure that those that need to be demolished we go ahead and do so. Those that can be renovated also we ask the owners of the building to renovate them.”
He noted that under Sections 12 and 181 of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), Metropolitan Assemblies are mandated to exercise control over physical development and take measures necessary to safeguard public safety, sanitation and orderly development within their jurisdictions.
He further referenced provisions of the National Disaster Management Organisation Act, 2016 (Act 927), which empower NADMO to coordinate disaster prevention, risk reduction and emergency response measures, including interventions intended to avert structural disasters.
Alhaji Kamal further warned that property owners who fail to undertake remedial works within the stipulated period risk enforcement action by the Assembly.
“Local Governance Act 2016, Act 936 and NADMO Act of 2016, Act 927, have all clothed us with the power to work on all these buildings. The Mayor has given orders for us to write to the owners of these buildings concerning their state and have given them a one month notice in accordance with the Act. If they fail to do so, the Assembly will then rely on the same Act and move in and do the needful.”
He added that where demolition becomes necessary, the Assembly may recover the cost of the exercise from property owners in accordance with its statutory enforcement powers.
“So, we will like to draw the attention of owners of these structures across the metropolis that they should be mindful of the state of their properties. When we come in and demolish, we surcharge the owners to pay for the cost the Assembly incurred in the demolition exercise.”
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