The Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly has launched a city-wide demolition exercise aimed at removing structurally unsafe and dilapidated buildings, following the collapse of a storey building that tragically claimed two lives.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, June 21, at an area known as London Bridge. Heavy rainfall is believed to have weakened the old structure, leading to its collapse.
Speaking on the incident, Cape Coast Metropolitan Chief Executive George Justice Arthur said the Assembly has identified several high-risk structures across the city and is taking urgent steps to prevent further disasters.
“If you come to Cape Coast, you’ll notice that many of the buildings are very old—some dating back to the early 1900s or even the 1800s—because Cape Coast is a historic town,” Mr. Arthur explained.
He emphasized that many of these aged buildings have severely deteriorated, posing a danger to residents and the general public.
“We know the owners of these buildings. We’ve engaged them and explained the seriousness of the situation. In some cases, we’ve reached consensus, which has allowed us to proceed with demolitions,” he added.
The MCE also noted that discussions with other property owners are ongoing, with the aim of gaining full cooperation to expand the demolition exercise across the metropolis.
Mr. Arthur assured the public that the Assembly is committed to ensuring safety and restoring order throughout Cape Coast.
“Our objective is simple: to protect lives and bring sanity to the metropolis,” he concluded.
