Erection of shelter and other structures must always conform to proper planning by either the city or local authority within a defined geographical setting.

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BOLGA: Disregard for proper planning becomes worrisome

Erection of shelter and other structures must always conform to proper planning by either the city or local authority within a defined geographical setting.


Date Created : 5/22/2014 4:55:38 PM : Story Author : GhanaDistrict.Com

Erection of shelter and other structures must always conform to proper planning by either the city or local authority within a defined geographical setting.

The disregard for proper planning and putting up of buildings in the Upper East Region has received various condemnations from concerned citizens and opinion leaders as this is causing the municipality to lose its desired plan.

Many structures in the region is mushrooming without proper architectural planning. Some of these structures were built in unauthorised areas like in water-ways, while others were so haphazardly constructed, such that they could be recipes for disaster.

Though the springing up of such structures were seen as signs of development, if care was not taken, in the next ten years, the regional capital, Bolgatanga, would look like a slump. This could spell doom for residents, in the event of fire outbreaks or floods.

The erection of those unauthorised buildings was also seen in places meant for footpaths and roads, and as a result, residents were denied access to their houses, in some cases.
This would undoubtedly impede free movement of fire service personnel, should there be any fire outbreak.

Again, places declared by the National Disaster Management Organisation as disaster-prone were also used for the construction of residential accommodations, and, in some instances, churches.

Each year, when the region experiences heavy rains, areas such as Daweo, Sawaba and Pobaga Estate are seriously hit by floods. And each time this occurred, the residents lose personal belongings, and sometimes lives.

Before he was reshuffled to superintend the Upper West Region, Dr. Avea raised concern about the springing up of unauthorised buildings, and charged the agencies with responsibility of issuing permits for the building of those structures, to do the work as mandated, and not compromise.

He lamented: “Everybody is building so recklessly. No one is bothered about whether anything is happening. Some assemblies are giving permits where they should not. I just saw some structures right in the middle of the ministries. I’ve ordered that all of them should go.”

If Dr. Avea’s vow was anything to go by, and would not distracted by political influence, as we have seen in the past, then owners of unauthorised buildings in the region must be thinking of where else to acquire new plots and secure permits to be able to build.

People must rather ponder over the social cost of this practice and start conforming to proper planning than to follow their own selfish desires which ends up spelling disaster for us all. For those who thought they could put up buildings haphazardly, they must also reconsider their myopic thinking, and do the right thing now.