The Recently Collapsed Structures at Kissy Shell And Others
The recently collapsed structures at Kissy Shell as well as past incidents, require urgent attention. This is a multiple occupancy building, and there is a standard process for approving such structures in most countries around the world.
Courtesy: Victor Ako Mengot
A systematic approach to building control and the granting of building permits
September 16, 2024
Salone needs a regulatory body to look at the building code and building materials that are being sold to home builders. Sierra Leone hasn’t had any form of structural governing body since the 80s.
Courtesy: Victor Ako MengotThe recently collapsed structures at Kissy Shell as well as past incidents, require urgent attention.
This is a multiple occupancy building, and there is a standard process for approving such structures in most countries around the world.
This should be done through a multi-agency approach considering the mandate of relevant institutions in Sierra Leone as a case study example.
INSTITUTIONAL MANDATE
Local Government (FCC) to ensure that it conforms with the City Structure Plan (if there is any); building use classes order; and issues relating to waste management.
SLRA - accessibility to avoid encroachment in the Right of Way.
Ministry of Lands - issues relating to building plans/permits and development control.
National Fire Service - use of non-combustible materials, etc.
EDSA - matters relating to the quality of cabling materials and wiring of the building.
SLRSA/FCC - parking management.
Some building owners cut corners (put for me) or rush to get these building constructions up just to cash in.
THE PROCESS
How should it be done.
Submission of building plan to the Ministry of Lands. This function can be devolved to local government. This is the application for a building permit.
Search for the ownership of the plot, including the conveyance document.
Site inspection by building/development control Inspectors.
Contact property owners in the immediate vicinity to check that the structure would not have adverse effects on surrounding properties.
Guma Valley - access to the water grid and issues to do with the drainage system to prevent pollution of the water grid.
Granting of building permits subject to periodic checks after construction by building inspectors; Fire service; local council officials (waste management during construction); and Electrical Engineers (EDSA).
Certification by the Lands Ministry that the building is fit for occupancy.
“REQUIRE URGENT ATTENTION! A systematic approach is necessary to building control and the granting of building permits. Too many collapsed structures and deaths of innocent people.”
“HOW THINGS FELL APART”
Freetown is the first planned city in West Africa, developed using a grid system for 250,000 inhabitants. It had forest reserve areas, zoning of buildings for various socio-economic activities, and effective city and rural administration. Flashback to the Wellington Industrial Estate and the emergence of the ‘Bomeh’ waste disposal site.
The FCC had a Planning and Building Control Directorate, City Engineers Department, and Sanitary Division (environmental protection). Over the years, politics rendered local government dysfunctional.
Population explosion also led to unplanned settlement in areas like Dworzac; Sorie Tong, which was a reserved FBC botanical preservation area, Kamayama; Kuntolor, etc. Not to talk about encroachment in the Hills and Valleys that now echoing our cry.
We have all these bylaws and policies/plans in our archives that made Freetown a liveable city. FCC was even providing loans for housing I.e., to replace houses with thatched roofs (bamboo-ose). This brought about the introduction of houses on stilts (long fut-ose).
The rationale for this is that the owner will later build accommodation for rent at the bottom. As we say in Krio nar landlord for dae nar up garret.
My simple message is in Krio: “If we nor noe usai we dae go, leh we noe usai we comot.” Lonta!
Freetown City Council (FCC) By-Laws: Any person(s) who contravenes these provisions commits an offense and shall be liable.
Sierra Leone Unapproved Construction: Juba in Peril
The environmental impact of this uncontrolled growth is also evident. Plastic waste and blocked drainages paint a picture of growing neglect. Coupled with the chaotic atmosphere creates an unsettling environment and erodes the quality of life for all residents.
The illegal residents reportedly cut into the pipes for water access
We must act now before another preventable disaster strikes
The environmental impact of this uncontrolled growth is also evident. Plastic waste and blocked drainages paint a picture of growing neglect. Coupled with the chaotic atmosphere creates a chaotic and unsettling environment and erodes the quality of life for all residents
Juba, once a high-end neighborhood in Freetown, finds itself battling a complex and pressing issue: a dense network of unauthorized settlements encroaching directly onto critical infrastructure, including its vital water pipelines. These makeshift structures built on the city's main water pipe - the lifeline connecting the Guma reservoir to the wider community in Freetown - pose a significant risk to both the community and individuals, raising concerns about safety, sanitation, and environmental protection.
Unapproved construction can compromise the integrity of these vital pipes, leading to potential leaks, disruptions, and even contamination. Additionally, the settlements often lack proper sanitation facilities, raising the specter of hygiene concerns and disease outbreaks.
The environmental impact of this uncontrolled growth is also evident. Plastic waste and blocked drainages paint a picture of growing neglect. Coupled with the chaotic atmosphere, it creates an unsettling environment and erodes the quality of life for all residents.
The situation is further complicated by allegations of colluding between the residents, Freetown City Council (FCC) officials, and Members of Parliament. Bi-monthly payments to FCC officials from illegal settlers and claims of unauthorized electricity access through EDSA payments raise serious questions about the erosion of the rule of law, despite official regulations prohibiting such connections in unauthorized settlements.
Juba's predicament is not an isolated incident; it reflects a larger challenge faced by law-abiding residents in Freetown. This development is not simply about illegal settlements but the complex interplay between politics, governance, and the erosion of trust in certain institutions.
While the reasons for these irregular settlements might be multifaceted, their impact on the Guma pipeline and the wider Juba community is undeniable. The illegal residents reportedly cut into the pipes for water access, potentially compromising the entire system's integrity and jeopardizing the water supply. This raises questions about the long-term viability of such a development, for the community and the broader infrastructure network.
Finding solutions demands a comprehensive and unbiased assessment of the situation, a firm commitment to upholding regulations, and collaborative efforts from community members and relevant authorities like the National Disaster Management Agency, Guma Valley, ONS, FCC, EDSA, and Members of Parliament. Only through such collective action can Juba and other neighborhoods reclaim their communities, where safety, sanitation, and environmental well-being are not negotiable luxuries but fundamental rights for all law-abiding residents.
This is not a time for finger-pointing. We must act now before another preventable disaster strikes with potentially catastrophic consequences. Juba is a stark reminder of the human cost of inaction and the urgent need for responsible governance, community engagement, and a renewed commitment to the rule of law.
Bob Jusu reportingRelated
Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr on Facebook: Guma Valley Water Company communication unit reported
Sierra Leone Colonial Report for 1914 - Annual: compared to the present population.
