Excellent article. The one issue probably we should add is the fact that once you start the process of seeking the permit , for example , from Estate housing company to AMA, the officers in charge or their subordinates will d ... read full comment
Excellent article. The one issue probably we should add is the fact that once you start the process of seeking the permit , for example , from Estate housing company to AMA, the officers in charge or their subordinates will delay every step of that process. There is a conception that if you are about to build implies you have money, and you should share some with everyone.
Instead 6 months or even a year, it will take you, if you are lucky enough , more than 4 years.
Regulations are good but they should be respected by the seeker and the issuer of building permit.
Abeeku Mensah 8 years ago
You guys can refer to a 100-years of laws in Ghana and they they will not amount to much. What you forget, as authors writing for GhanaIan readership, is that laws are enforced by government institutions while governments are ... read full comment
You guys can refer to a 100-years of laws in Ghana and they they will not amount to much. What you forget, as authors writing for GhanaIan readership, is that laws are enforced by government institutions while governments are derived from the very citizenry that are to acquiesce or succumb to existing laws. In Ghana we have neither effective institutions to make government work or moral compass to accept our civic duties or responsibilities. And in a country where citizens have loyalty to tribes and political parties over love for or loyalty to nation mundane laws are apt to be as useful as tits on a bull.
The NPP and NDC gave us the decentralized urban and rural planning and development scheme giving authority to local governments to enforce laws from the national government and development by locals. Would the articles of parliament that formed the basis for the rural and urban scheme not imply a level of civic duty from people in each community? The entire decentralized scheme was put together out of spite for Nkrumah in collaboration with people in the Diaspora who have not seen rules and practices from afar they will not attempt to transplant in Ghana without requisite structures and institutions to make those ideas work. For the laws on land planing and development to be effective in Ghana, citizens or communities must take their civic responsibilitis seriously without favor and a love for country above all else. Ghana and Ghanaians here at home and those in the Diaspora must give up the umbilical attachment to tribe and inform government agencies with jurisdiction on illegal startups which can be a tall order for a people and governments who shamelessly build monuments for terrorists and draw moral equivalenCy between advocates for chaos and acts of perceived government abuse. It is a disservice to the nation to have laws on books but for which there are no adequate tools and effective enforcement agencies with jurisdiction to manage. In reality there are no laws that gives a darn to life and liberties or health, safety and security of Ghanaians. We got Nkrumah good did we not?
Prof Lungu 8 years ago
Abeeku Mensah,
As usual, you make some insightful points.
The last we heard, lawyers, through the GBA, were trying to interject themselves between every sale of a land parcel in every corner of Ghana. This essay by Emman ... read full comment
Abeeku Mensah,
As usual, you make some insightful points.
The last we heard, lawyers, through the GBA, were trying to interject themselves between every sale of a land parcel in every corner of Ghana. This essay by Emmanuel Mate-Kole, Esq., and Kow Essuman, Esq., could be construed/mis-construed as part of the "agenda", by lawyers.
YOUR: "...The entire decentralized scheme was put together out of spite for Nkrumah in collaboration with people in the Diaspora who have not seen rules and practices from afar they will not attempt to transplant in Ghana without requisite structures and institutions to make those ideas work..."
WE SAY: Good point! On the other hand, the stereotyping and constant attacks on "Diasporans" is something we've never understood.
Maybe, you will help us by telling us exactly who you mean by "Diasporans" next time. You are not saying that only Ghanaians who live in Ghana 100% of their life, on this earth, can/do make meaningful contribution(s), are you?
BACK TO THE ARTICLE:
We believe that the authors have covered an important area here.
In fact, they expose one of the major disconnects with the so-called 40-Year Development Plan. It is remarkable to us - that missed-road?
In fact, the law that created the Nii Moi Thompson NDPC talks about resourcing and building up the capacities of the Districts and planners, including certification, training, education.
But, among other reasons, it appear Nii Moi Thompson's NDPC find a a 40-Year Development Plan sexier than the bread-and-butter of real-lie District development planning and enabling, that can make permanent difference.
Then, there is the matter of the Rawlingsian Constitution(s) that require revision(s).
In sum, we have a "Stove-Pipe" essay of an important matter of Local governance, divorced from the over-arching foundations.
Excellent article. The one issue probably we should add is the fact that once you start the process of seeking the permit , for example , from Estate housing company to AMA, the officers in charge or their subordinates will d ...
read full comment
You guys can refer to a 100-years of laws in Ghana and they they will not amount to much. What you forget, as authors writing for GhanaIan readership, is that laws are enforced by government institutions while governments are ...
read full comment
Abeeku Mensah,
As usual, you make some insightful points.
The last we heard, lawyers, through the GBA, were trying to interject themselves between every sale of a land parcel in every corner of Ghana. This essay by Emman ...
read full comment