Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, the mayor of Accra, has urged citizens and business owners to assist local authorities in enforcing safety laws, stressing that failure to do so may endanger lives.
The Mayor made the call while visiting the New Town disaster site with His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse and President of the Ga Traditional Council, and Hon. Rudolph Collingwood Williams, the Ayawaso Central Municipal Chief Executive, in order to assess the situation and speak with the impacted residents.
Speaking at the location, the mayor reaffirmed that while the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) was dedicated to protecting people and property, it needed the public’s cooperation to do so.
He clarified that the Assembly had recently taken action at the Kaneshie overhead area, which he characterised as a serious safety hazard in need of immediate repair.
He claimed to have personally visited the site to supervise the removal of unlawful activity and then sent out a task force to keep an eye on compliance in the evening.
The Mayor voiced concern that the Assembly’s efforts to ensure safety were being undermined by traders who were returning to the area just after the task force departed.
He warned that carelessness in such circumstances could have deadly repercussions, even though such acts might not immediately endanger those engaged.
Mayor Allotey emphasised that the sustainability of safety initiatives depended on the cooperation of locals and vendors.
In an indication of the Assembly’s determination to ensure compliance, he revealed that he would be going back to the Kaneshie overhead site later in the day to keep an eye on the situation.
Additionally, the Mayor declared that the Assembly now had an operational cleanliness court to punish violators, meaning that those who disobey rules will be detained and held responsible for their deeds.
He called on locals to report any construction activities being carried out in their communities without permits so that the Assembly could act quickly. He also urged the public to take recent incidents as a serious lesson and encouraged community members to actively participate in ensuring compliance with building and safety regulations.
The Mayor emphasised that the Assembly’s actions were ultimately in the public interest and called for shared accountability, pointing out that people’ collaboration would allow the AMA to better safeguard lives and avert future tragedies.
His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse and President of the Ga Traditional Council, has urged for strict adherence to building laws as well as increased control by regulatory organisations to avoid future calamities.
He underlined the significance of regular inspections of school facilities, citing examples such as Aayalolo and Mamprobi Sempe, and stated that such institutions must always meet the required safety requirements.
Source: newsthemegh.com