Melcom Disaster: Building Owner Bares It All...I Had Permit

Owner of the building housing the Achimota branch of Melcom,Nana Boadu Nkansah Ayeboafo has denied claims that the building had no permit.

The Achimota branch of Melcom shopping centre caved-in on Wednesday morning killing and trapping many in the process.

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) said the building had no permit as such the owner will face the full rigor of the law.

Speaking in an interview on Peace FM’s morning show programme "kokrokoo" with host Kwami Sefa-Kayi, Nana Boadu Nkansah Ayeboafo,chief of Kumasi Nsima, owner of the building said he has every evidence to support his claim that the building had permit.

“It is not my wish for the building to collapse. There is no way I will put up a building and do a shoddy work. I will plead that the right thing will be said and also allow for investigations. I am so sad but I accept every blame... I have tried to get in touch with the contractor but to no avail but we have not given up; I am sure we will get in touch with him soon. Every document needed to help in the investigations I will provide. I have a file full of documents and receipts showing the building permit fees. And so anyone who will say that we don’t have a permit is just trying to play mischief…”

Nana Buadu is also alleged to have erected a similar building at Kumasi which the authorities have placed an injunction on it. However, Nana claims the building has not been halted. He entreated the ‘doubting Thomases’ to go to Kumasi and verify if the building had cracks on it.

He also disclosed that on a visit to Melcom, he realized that they were packing heavy equipment to the top floors and complained bitterly of it.

“I told the Manager that I didn't want the heavy building upstairs because it can lead to the collapse of the building but they didn't listen… No one should say what he is not sure of; we just thank God for everything that has happened…”

Asked if he had been invited by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), he said: “I have not been called by the BNI or any security agency; I only heard it on air. I will personally go to the police headquarters and anywhere I am wanted to assist in investigations…”