An unauthorised building above a fire hydrant at Kantamanto in the Central Business District (CBD) has been cleared by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in order to improve fire safety and restore access.
In order to determine the extent of the damage, Mayor Allotey visited the fire scene at Bank Road, Liberty Avenue, on Tuesday and ordered the structure to be removed.
He clarified that the Assembly would take action to stop future incidents of the same kind even though they were previously unaware of the structure’s existence.
The mayor stated, “I found out about this today and will remove the illegal structure. I will make sure the person responsible is charged and prosecuted in court this is unacceptable,”
Additionally, the mayor warned residents and business owners not to operate on roads or close to vital infrastructure since doing so impedes traffic and makes emergency response efforts more difficult.
He continued, “When people set up and operate on the roadside, they obstruct traffic and endanger others. I have told them to move back to the designated selling areas and to stop occupying the roadway. I know some of you have suffered losses recently, and I sympathise, but leaving the roadside blocked is not an option.”
Under the “Resetting Accra” agenda, Mayor Allotey reiterated his commitment to upholding the city’s safety and building codes, promising that they will be applied consistently and without exception.
“I promised the people I would act, and I will keep that promise. This time we will enforce the rules without leniency, no exceptions. We will take decisive action to correct this and ensure the safety and order of our streets,” he said.
The AMA was working closely with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and other agencies to strengthen fire prevention and ensure compliance with city safety standards, he added.
He also stated that other unapproved wooden and metal structures in the Kantamanto enclave would also be cleared to improve accessibility for emergency services and prevent future fire hazards.
Source: newsthemegh.com