AMA approves 56 out of 174 permit applications for the first half

Accra, July 16, GNA - The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) for the first half of this year received 174 applications for building permits out of which 56 were approved.

Of the 87 applications that were considered, 20 were deferred 20 and 11 refused.

Ms Gladys Muquah, Town Planning Officer of AMA announced this when presenting a report on development applications received and processed by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Planning Committee at a meeting in Accra on Friday.

The meeting was organised by the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) for Metropolitan, Municipal, District Chief Executives and Statutory Planning Committees in the Region.

They were to deliberate on issues including the Expedited Building Permits System that had been introduced by GARCC to address bottlenecks in the acquisition of building permits.

Acquisitions of permits are expected to be obtained within three months.

Ms Muquah said between January-December last year 802 applications were received, considered 401, approved 273, deferred 106 and refused 22.

She said the applications refused were sites that were over developed Ghana Railway Corporation (GRC) acquired lands and inadequate sites for proposed developments.

Ms Muquah said deferral applicants were based on directives received from Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to suspend processing applications received within the re-development and in-fill areas.

Others were applications received from telecommunication operators, which were suspended as a result of the ban awaiting the guidelines and applicants to amend the plans submitted or submit other relevant reports.