GIA wants review of National Building Regulation 1996

The Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA) on Friday called for the review of the existing National Building Regulation 1996 (LI 1630) to enable the law to deal with contemporary issues.

Mr Tony Asare, Honorary Secretary of the Institute, disclosed this to journalists at the end of the first session of GIA’s Annual General Meeting held in Accra.

He described the existing law as outdated and expressed dissatisfaction that it did not include contemporary issues including change in building regulation and enforcement, green modes of construction, green energy, and matters bordering on the extent to which a parcel of land could be developed and the correct distance from a boundary to a building.

Consequently, Mr Asare said, GIA had applied for GH¢115,699.95 of the Business Advocacy Fund (BUSAC) to support the review project and that the GIA would contribute 10 per cent to the amount mentioned.

Mr Asare said an additional GH¢11,569.50 would be used for monitoring and evaluation.

He said the institute would train 30 selected architects to develop their advocacy skills so they could effectively and efficiently engage parliamentarians on the proposed review of the building regulation.

Mr Asare said management would commission a research into other areas of the regulation that required a review.

He said GIA would also organize a forum to meet stakeholders in the building environment and industry to sensitise them on the project.

Earlier, the institute made recommendations that would forestall disasters such as the Achimota Melcom disaster which include that Parliament should legislate the mandatory structural, electrical and mechanical engineering audit of new buildings by qualified engineers and safety personnel.

It said local municipal or metropolitan assembly should issue a habitation certificate acceptable to the National Insurance Commission prior to opening a facility to the public.

The Assembly should audit the internal processes to date with regards to laid down processes in acquisition of property for commercial or public use such as shopping malls, church halls, assembly halls and storage sheds.

“GIA strongly recommends enforcement of Private Public Partnership to monitor building control,” it said.

The six-storey Achimota Melcom building collapsed on November 7 trapping unspecified number of persons and killing 14.

Source: GNA