Accra, Feb. 12, GNA - Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, on Monday said officials of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) would henceforth be held accountable for any lapses that should result in the building sector.

This, he said, was because of the growing laxity in the enforcement of planning and building regulations by MMDAs.

Mr Asamoah-Boateng said in a press statement that lack of vigilance and laxity of MMDAs Works Departments in monitoring of developments to enforce compliance were a major contributory factor to the construction of such substandard buildings/structures, which pose potential danger to pubic.

He recounted how a four-storey building at Swalaba in Accra collapsed in 2002 and a five-storey building at Asafo in Kumasi late last year.

"It may be noted that cities and other human settlements are the engines of growth of national economics when properly managed to function effectively.

"The country, therefore, stands to achieve its goal of poverty reduction and improvement of the living conditions of the citizenry if there is proper and better monitoring of physical development in all district assemblies."

Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the ministry would impose severe sanctions on any staff of MMDAs for any lapses, acts of omission and or commission in the performance of his/her duties.

Similarly, any MMDA that fails in its duties will be held accountable for any lapses as a result of ineffective management, control and enforcement of planning and building regulations, he said. Mr Asamoah-Boateng said what was of grave concern to Cabinet was the putting up of houses and other structures in flood-prone and other environmentally sensitive areas, without regard to the planning and building regulations.

"It is the considered view of the Ministry that an adequate legislative environment exists for MMDAs to effectively regulate and control all developments within their jurisdiction.

"The Local Government Act 462 expressly confers development planning, management and control responsibilities and function on MMDAs and makes specific provisions for the enforcement and control of physical developments within their jurisdiction.

"These provisions are reinforced by the National Building Regulations, 1996 LI 1630 which specify in detail standards related to materials and management of building constructions through all the stages of construction to ensure that it is safe for occupation." Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the problem was therefore that of control and enforcement.

"Unfortunately some enforcement officials are reported to be taking monetary rewards from builders and have therefore neglected their responsibilities," he said, and cautioned that it was a worrisome development that had the potential to impact negatively on national development efforts.