In a determined effort to avert potential building disasters, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the Shama municipality has intensified a safety campaign targeting structurally compromised buildings.
So far, five dangerously weak structures have been identified across the municipality. Of these, three have already been demolished in what officials describe as a life-saving intervention.
The operation follows series of routine safety inspections conducted across several communities in the municipality, which uncovered six buildings with severe structural defects.
The urgency of the exercise has been heightened by recent events in Cape Coast, where six buildings collapsed within a week, with one fatality.
In Shama, Municipal NADMO Coordinator Michael Nyan disclosed that four of the identified buildings located in Shama and Inchaban have so far been demolished as part of immediate safety measures.
The remaining two structures are currently under review, with NADMO actively engaging their owners to ensure full compliance with safety directives.
“We are working closely with the owners of the remaining buildings to secure their cooperation for a safe and lawful demolition,” Mr. Nyan stated.
However, he acknowledged that the exercise is not without challenges. Notable among them is the difficulty in locating some property owners to serve them with demolition notices.
He also cited how the closeness of some buildings make their demolition more complex.
“In some cases, especially in Shama township the buildings are so tightly packed that bringing them down without damaging adjoining structures becomes a delicate task. But we’re doing our best to ensure the process is carried out safely,” he explained.
Despite these challenges, Mr. Nyan expressed optimism about the progress of the operation, noting that community response has been largely positive.
