The Ghanaian, Amid Maintenance & Rehabilitation

Before and after our cherished independence, several buildings and structures in various shapes and forms have been erected in different parts of the country. Most of these buildings and structures have been put up not only for the facilitation of the work of several institutions and governmental bodies, but also for the promotion of industrialization in the country. These structures and premises include but not limited to, flats, bungalows, factory buildings, institutional premises, governmental buildings, roads and the ilk.

Each year, new forms of buildings are erected. Every new government in power tries to construct several buildings, roads and other structures all in the name of development. Individuals in the country also undertake such similar ventures. Inarguably, these structures have been advanced to enhance our national development in one way or the other but the fundamental puzzle that still remains abstract is our attitude of repairs towards such structures.

It is a fact that the spirit of maintenance and rehabilitation among Ghanaians is very appalling. This unspeakable attitude is patent not only among those who exercise governmental or political powers, but also the ordinary man in the country. We are very quick to build but we fail to plan for the repairs of such structures. Today, it is evident upon entering into some government premises to see that, maintenance and rehabilitation are absent in the mind of those in charge of such structures. We are always waiting for a preventable disaster to strike before our sense of thinking is awakened. Some of our police and military barracks have taken the form of hutches, some of our school buildings are like cattle ranches, and some of our constructed roads are serving as factories where we breed potholes. A number of of our court houses are in no way different from slums for squatters. The premises of our local authorities are raising various forms of reptiles on a large scale. Majority of our market centers are akin to refuse dumps. The various K.V.I.Ps in our communities are ghastly. Most of our governmental buildings, premises and structures including but not limited to flats, bungalows, hospitals, ministries and state houses and corporations are appearing as if they were constructed before the birth of Jesus Christ.

Ironically, humanbeings are occupying or plying all these premises and structures.

To make matters worst, a body or somebody has been entrusted with these structures. We are always waiting for the government (Which include us) to carry out such repair works. Common painting is even a headache to some of us. Mockingly, several of these premises and structures are swiftly repaired or rehabilitated when there is going to an election, an official visit by any of our state officials or say, a statesman or a foreign personality all the under the guise of consciousness. Sadly enough, we spend a lot of money during such times which if we were to act earlier would have been relatively at a very low price. Why should we wait to do what common sense depicts at certain point in time as a reasonable maintenance measure but act when there is going to be an event or when there is a misfortune. Indeed, common sense is truly common but not common to all people.

The state even most of the time fails to factor repair and rehabilitation exercises in our yearly budgets but is always thinking of doing something new at the expense of the ordinary man. Most of our District Assemblies regard such a useful and sane exercise as a matter not worth considering until there is a problem. The citizenry is also very lethargic. It is the humble submission of the writer that it is high time we deemed and considered the spirit of maintenance and rehabilitation as a practice and not an event so as to save our dear nation from some unnecessary spending. It is not enough for us to always erect structures, but it is also equally very imperative to plan for their maintenance. Building or construction and maintenance are bedfellows and the wise sees this to accumulate his meager resources.

Obeng Mensah Richard, Faculty of Law,
KNUST borncapy@yahoo.com; Center for Human Rights and Advanced Legal Research (CHRALER), Kumasi.