Regional News of Saturday, 20 June 2015

Source: The Chronicle

Death trap at Rawlings Park

One major problem in our Ghanaian society is the reluctant attitude to prevent fatal situations from happening. Often the country spends money addressing disasters, instead of preventing them.

A critical example is an abandoned foundation by unknown construction company near Rawlings Park, posing a threat to shoppers, traders, and especially, children.

As environmental and construction safety standards would demand fencing of the site, the company has only surrounded the abandoned foundation with tape, which is very close to the road and surrounded by shops.

Surprisingly, the pit is about 400 metres away from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) head office, where its officers, each day, tour the area to collect revenue from traders doing business around the looming danger.

Since the area is business centre, passers-by are left with no option than to maneuver on a wooden plank built around the foundation.

On a daily basis, the pit is collecting refuse, giving room for the breeding of mosquitoes and other pests. The foundations of other buildings around will weaken, if the city authority don’t act fast to prevent a future disaster.

Some traders interviewed by the Accra File expressed great concern about the dangers and threats it posed to them.