Over 80 people were rescued from the rubble
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly has threatened to pull down other buildings belonging to Nana Boadu Nkansah Ayeboafo, the owner of the collapsed Melcom building.
The Mayor of Accra Alfred Vanderpuye told a news conference Friday that they would only back down on their threat if the safety of the buildings have been guaranteed and proof of permit provided by Nana Boadu.
According to Dr Vanderpuiye, their records show that the owner never acquired any permit for the construction.
His outfit, he said, has “quickly sought court order” to ask all occupants of the four remaining buildings to evacuate them “immediately within three days”.
Mr Vanderpuiye explained that the move would make the buildings available for inspection to ensure that “we can guarantee to the public the safety use of these” buildings.
He stated the buildings would remained closed until the professionals have done their job to ascertain that they are in good standing.
He further warned: “Failure of the owner to come forward to produce the necessary documents to allow us to do our work, I can guarantee you that these buildings would come down in an uncertain term to ensure public safety.”
The Accra Mayor pointed out that construction of the six-storey Melcom building at Achimota which collapsed on Wednesday started in 2007 and completed in 2008 “without any approval and without any permit”.
“It is clear and evident that this building and its completion was not done under my watch,” he said.