The Architecture Alliance has called for urgent enforcement of building laws and modernization of construction practices to prevent recurring tragedies such as building collapses, fire outbreaks, and flood disasters across Ghana.
In a statement, Arc. Patience Ewurama Ocran, President of the Architecture Alliance, said these incidents are not isolated but symptomatic of a systemic failure: “Laws exist, but enforcement is weak. Lives and property are being lost not because Ghana lacks regulations, but because those regulations are routinely ignored.”
Laws Exist, Enforcement is Missing
Ghana has a comprehensive legal framework governing the built environment, including the Local Governance Act (2016, Act 936), the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority Act (2016, Act 925), the National Building Regulations (2022, LI 2465), and the Ghana Building Code (GS 1207:2018).
However, the Alliance notes that enforcement is inconsistent, allowing unapproved developments to flourish—often in flood-prone areas or without qualified supervision. Stop-work notices are ignored, inspections delayed, and demolitions occur only after disasters strike.
“Regulations without enforcement offer false security and place lives at risk,” Arc. Ocran stressed.
Human and Economic Cost of Weak Enforcement
The consequences of inaction are severe. Buildings erected without approved designs, proper supervision, or compliant materials put tenants, schoolchildren, workers, and passers-by at risk. Beyond the loss of life, communities are displaced, livelihoods disrupted, and government resources repeatedly diverted to emergency response rather than prevention.
Institutional Accountability Must Be Non-Negotiable
Arc. Ocran emphasized that enforcement is a statutory duty, not a matter of choice. The Ministry of Works and Housing and the Ministry of Local Government are responsible for policy direction and oversight, while Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) must regulate development, issue permits, and halt illegal construction.
“Political interference, personal influence, and administrative inertia must never supersede public safety. Where officials fail to act in accordance with the law, accountability must follow,” she warned.
Modernising Construction for a Resilient Future
The Alliance also called for modernization of construction practices, adoption of sustainable materials, digital tools, and advanced building methods to improve quality, reduce costs, and enhance resilience.
Digitization of building permit processes, they said, would ensure transparency, curb delays, strengthen coordination, and restore public confidence in development control.
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Professional Integrity and Public Vigilance
Arc. Ocran urged architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, and other built environment professionals to uphold ethical standards and avoid participation in unsafe or illegal developments. She also stressed the role of citizens in reporting violations and demanding compliance. “Silence enables negligence; vigilance saves lives,” she said.
A Call for Decisive Action
The Architecture Alliance concluded by urging decisive leadership in enforcing building regulations across the country. The Alliance called on authorities to enforce building laws without compromise, stop illegal developments at the earliest stage, sanction offenders consistently, and place public safety above all other considerations. “A safe country begins with safe buildings, and safety begins with enforcement,” Arc. Ocran concluded.
Below is the full statement
