The Ghana Standards Authority has provided all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the Northern Region with the 2018 Ghana Buildings Code to ensure the construction of quality infrastructure across the country.

The authority sensitised district Planning Officers, Engineers and other relevant stakeholders across the thirteen districts of the Northern Region on Thursday, 12 April 2019 at the University for Development Studies, Nyankpala campus.

The Ghana Building Code GS 1207: 2018 was launched last year by Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, as part of efforts by the GSA to make available the requirements for the building and construction industry in the country.

In a Class news interview, the Scientific Officer at the Ghana Standards Authority, Mr Emmanuel Obeng said the Code is to enable buildings survive earthquakes and other natural disasters when they occur.

Mr Obeng noted that people put up buildings without recourse to safety mechanisms, thereby endangering other people’s lives and properties. He indicated that the new Code is expected to standardise the whole environment. He mentioned that the requirements of the Code are applied to all forms of buildings including three-storey buildings and those of an area equivalent to 220 metres. He added that this is to ensure that buildings are safe during construction and occupancy.

According to Mr Obeng, the Building Code is a comprehensive document that will guide architects in designing structures and also inform engineers on the standard structures to put up, as well as guide city authorities at the various MMDAs on the kind of requirements to look out for in structures.

Meanwhile, the Acting Director of the Ghana Standards Authority, Ms Joyce Okoree, said this is the first-ever Building Code available for the country. She disclosed that for several years now, the country has been using the British Code, adding that this is the appropriate time to come out with a Code which has a Ghanaian content.

Ms Joyce said this is the first phase of sensitisation and stakeholder engagements which the GSA is organising and they have held similar meetings in the Upper East and Upper West regions this week.


Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com/91.3FM/ Mohammed Gadafi