AMA boss vows to continue demolishing of unauthorised structures

Accra (Greater Accra) 22 April  

The Chief Executive of Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Mr Samuel Addokwei Addo on Wednesday vowed to continue with the demolishing of unauthorised structures in Accra saying the assembly had been pushed around for too long. "If in the past the AMA had been seen as an institution to be subjected to public ridicule and blame over the haphazard development in the city, those days are over," he said.

He said removal of all unauthorised structures have commenced according to plan and would continue until discipline prevails in their development. Areas of immediate concentration, he said, would be waterways, public parks, lands reserved for schools and road reservations.

The AMA boss was speaking in a radio broadcast following mixed reaction to the assembly's current exercise that started last week with the tearing down of a hotel near the airport. Many other houses at La Abormi and Tsui Bleoo at Teshie have also been demolished.

Mr Addokwei Addo gave a detailed account of the cases of flooding in the city saying that they are caused by the haphazard manner in which buildings and other structures have been allowed to spring up in areas that are clearly demarcated for other purposes.

"While the drainage facilities are choked by garbage dumped by some residents, the situation is worsened when a few individuals build in areas which are meant to serve as water courses so that when it rains water can have outlets."

Mr Addokwei Addo said whereas an individual may satisfy himself by building in an area where he is not supposed to, the result is often inimical to the interests of an entire community." Mr Addokwei Addo said Accra is overcrowded, haphazardly developing and gradually becoming an eyesore adding that those who travel praise the planning and layout of some cities like Abidjan, Kampala and Pretoria. "We have made it our goal to develop our own capital city of Accra to stand shoulder to shoulder with other cities."

He noted that despite warnings to developers, development and unapproved building persist. Mr Addokwei Addo noted that some of the illegal developments have come about through the connivance and complicity of some AMA staff. He said he has also observed a lack of co-ordination among various agencies charged with ensuring compliance with building regulations.

"This situation has created opportunities for some officials to do their own thing leaving it to others to clear the mess they have created. "I am determined to clear the mess as much as I can. And I will not hesitate to clear those officials messing up the AMA and its planning regulations."

Mr Addokwei Addo referred to the tearing down of the hotel on April 12 but said he could not go into details because of newspaper reports that the owner had commenced a court action. "Indeed, we have received a letter from the owner of the property, in which he states his intention to seek appropriate redress. We understand that language but we also recognise the spirit behind his letter and thank him for it. For obvious reasons, we reserve our comments for the appropriate forum and time."

The AMA boss said there were times, when in carrying out their mandate, some excesses might occur and said they appreciate it when it is pointed out to them. "We are willing to discuss the framework for appropriate remedy where excesses have occurred."

Mr Addokwei Addo said they, however, deplore the attempt by some groups to introduce confrontational partisan politics into the issue of enforcement of building regulations. "Indeed, it would appear that some of the persons leading the attacks on the AMA are the worst offenders of our building regulations. If any of them think that by orchestrating these attacks they can weaken the resolve of the AMA so that they go scot-free, then they are mistaken."

Mr Addokwei Addo said over the years, AMA had razed unauthorised structures to the ground but developers are becoming more and more vocal as if there is no law and order, thus perpetrating the nuisance.

He noted that political, economic, financial, ethnic, religious, and sometimes cultural ties and affiliations had always been exploited to prevent the enforcement of the law. "But the problems will have to be resolved sometime, someday, by someone. I have decided that the time is now, the day is today and the one is me."

Mr Addowei Addo said he is aware that by adopting this approach, he would be stepping on toes and very big ones at that. "I know that ultimately, even if, I may have to pay a price for doing what is right. That price will be nothing, compared to what the people of Accra will have to pay if we allowed rules and regulations to be flouted, with impunity, and if we allowed the contacts of a few, to be exploited to the disadvantage of the many."

He appealed to residents to be law abiding and work hard to make the capital safe, clean and beautiful.