The Achimota Melcom Tragedy Must Change Our Attitude To Building Regulations

By Kofi Thompson

One's heart goes out to the families of all those who died and were injured, when the building housing the Achimota Melcom superstore collapsed.

An enquiry into this disaster is crucial. It is important that the authorities learn important lessons from this tragedy - and ensure that they are incorporated in Ghana's building code.

One wonders whether the filling-in that was done when the section of the Achimota-Ofankor highway that runs in front of the collapsed building was being constructed, might somehow be a contributory factor to the tragedy.

Perhaps it might be prudent to carry out an inspection of all the nearby buildings, to avert another tragedy - if the ground in the area isn't properly drained and thus soaking up run-off storm-water.

Those public officials charged with enforcing building regulations must carry out their work more diligently - as such tragedies will be averted if they carried out on-site inspections more frequently during the construction of buildings in Ghana.

The Achimota Melcom superstore tragedy must change the attitude of all stakeholders in the building industry, to building regulations in Ghana. A word to the wise...

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Email: peakofi.thompson@gmail.com.