Pull Them Down, Now!

President Nana Akufo-Addo

It is frustrating, even irritating, the inability of the relevant authorities to apply the laid-down responses to breaches of construction in the nation's capital, the consequences of which laxity has been costly and even fatal.

The angst of the President was palpable when he gave the orders for structures constructed on waterways to be demolished. The First Gentleman's orders for the demolition only reflected those of the rest of the good citizens of this country who stand against such reckless constructions but can do only so much.

It is instructive that even before the President's orders, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, started such an exercise at Tema especially making the headlines in this regard.

The minister was constrained to order the demolishing of structures on waterways following the impunity with which the relevant bylaws were being ignored by developers and the devastating consequences.

In other jurisdictions, where bylaws work because public officials put in charge of state departments are on top of their assignments, it is unthinkable that even when they are warned against developing structures at specific locations, because reasons of risks are involved, among others, developers would ignore such directives.

In our part of the world, the notion is that bylaws do not work and when the authorities show up, phone calls to their superiors and the influence of money can help them to have their own way.

It can only be imagined the kind of pressure the regional minister endured when he embarked upon the demolishing of structures in Accra.

The regional minister and other relevant bodies in ensuring orderliness in the life of the city of Accra can draw inspiration from the President's order and move into action.

The dangerous status quo must give way to orderliness. Those who breach the laid-down standards in the matter of building construction should not be left alone to carry on with impunity because the consequences of their recklessness have far-reaching effects, in fact, beyond their rooms and compounds.

The Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), the President's representatives at the lowest level of governance, have failed us and it shows in the number of structures which continue to stand regardless of the dangers those pose to society by virtue of their positions.

In the case of permits, these have no meaning because they are almost on sale and therefore available for those who want them. It is not about the regulators inspecting to determine whether or not structures can be put up on specific lands.

The STOP WORK in red are only invitations to developers to go and do the needful at the permit-giving units of assemblies.

With the Presidential order now issued, let us see which of the assemblies will continue to slumber on their jobs. We shall stand by and watch how the President's order is carried out or not by the relevant authorities such as the assemblies.