The Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly Engineer, Isaac Ofori has revealed that the owner of a two-storey building that collapsed and killed three people had no permit.
The incident which claimed the lives of a carpenter and two others occurred at Kasoa Asempa Down, near the New Market on Saturday, August 24.
Initial investigations revealed that the building’s owner, who also owns Richmerc Vocational School, repeatedly evaded attempts by the assembly to inspect the construction site and verify the necessary permits.
According to Isaac Ofori, Engineer at the Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly, the owner consistently dismissed their efforts to check for compliance.
“The owner always chases us out anytime we visit the site to inspect her permit,” Mr. Ofori stated
Furthermore, the engineer alleged that the building owner was using substandard materials, which may have contributed to the collapse.
Despite being summoned several times, the owner failed to appear before the assembly, prompting plans to consider legal action.
“We summoned the landlady several times, but she refused to honour all the invitations. However, we are planning to sue her to serve as a deterrent to others,” Mr. Ofori emphasized.
The Kasoa Divisional Police Command has since invited the landlady for questioning regarding the fatal incident.