Assemblies asked to prevent collapse of public buildings

Kpando, Nov. 20, GNA - The Works Departments of Municipal and District Assemblies in the Volta region have been asked to ensure that public building are properly constructed to prevent them from collapse during the least rainstorm.

Mr Henry Ametepe, Volta Regional Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), made the call when he visited Kpando on Thursday, following a rainstorm that destroyed 130 buildings, including schools.

He expressed worry that some of the schools which were destroyed were built barely one-and-years ago. They include; Tsakpe Roman Catholic Boys, Gabi Roman Catholic Girls, Seventh Day Adventist Primary, Kpando Day Care Centre and Delta Preparatory. Mr Ametefe noted that most public and private buildings were put up without recourse to building codes and asked the assemblies to strictly enforce the codes to prevent the destruction property and lost of lives in future rainstorms.

"Some of the buildings have no lintels and were not strengthened by iron rods," he observed. Mr Ametefe said that NADMO in collaboration with the assemblies would organise training workshops for personnel of the works department. Reverend Father Apollinaris Anyomi, in charge of Catholic schools in the Kpando District, has appealed to individuals and organizations to support schools that have been affected by the rainstorm. Mr Francis Ganyaglo, Kpando District Chief Executive, sympathized with those who were affected by rainstorm and appealed to NADMO to provide them with roofing sheets and relief items.