DEMOLISH SLUMS, GHANA INSTITUTION OF SURVEYORS CHARGE

President of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors,James E.K Dadson

The new President of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS), James E.K.Dadson has warned that if steps are not taken to remove slums from prime areas Ghana cannot achieve the desired level of sustainable development

Speaking to the media after a thanks-giving service to round off the 8th Annual Surveyors Week in Accra, Surveyor Dadson said to embark on massive urban renewal to ensure that to neighbourhoods become fit for habitation and conduct of human activities.

The 2013 Annual Surveyors’ week celebration centred on urban renewal and sustainable re-development of Ghana’s cities.

The celebration also aimed at drawing government’s attention to the problem of urban decay and the development of slums with a view to finding lasting solutions to undesirable elements such as slums, traffic congestion, and the menace of old and dilapidated buildings in the city centres.

Surveyor James E .K. Dadson noted that Ghana has not managed its’ urban development well over the years.

‘Every land and what it’s supposed to be used for. If in the opinion of the experts, if a particular land use is not beneficial, we will have to relocate it and put it to a use that will be beneficial to society. You cannot have a slum in an area that has very high land value.’

Animals competing with humans for space at Sabon Zongo,Accra.

The new president of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors stressed that  landowners, property developers  and the general public who want to register or acquire property must engage the professionals who have been trained in that area if they want to get value for money.

He added that even when the Survey Council bill, which is now before parliament  is passed, it will still require the enforcement of the law to ensure that Ghana’s urban centres are congenial places to live in and work.

 ‘ I think the most important thing is not having the law, but rather being able to enforce the law. That is the key. We can have all the laws in this country but if we don’t enforce them we will not benefit from the gains from these laws. In the past we have not been law abiding. We think that all of us, the judiciary, the law enforcement agencies, the professionals, civil society our land owners, all of us must realise that  if we are not prudent in the way we manage our land resources, we will end up hurting the environment and the human beings that live on the land.’