Several squatters and Pantang hospital employees are forced to occupy unfinished and dilapidated buildings at the risk of their lives.
The Ministry of Health declared the structures unsafe following a structural integrity test in 2021.
The structure was originally built to house hospital staff, but nursing students and other community members have turned the dilapidated and worn-out structure into their home, despite hospital management’s warnings to vacate the building.
A visit to Pantang on March 16, 2023, revealed that the structure was still in use despite its deplorable condition.
There were various types of cracks and leaks, exposed and rusted iron rods, and exposed wires.
All of the stairs connecting the ground floor to the other floors were completely destroyed. One of the stairs in the Okonkwo Building was made of rotten wood, and the structure was crooked, but the building’s occupants continued to use it unconcerned.
Delali Tomegah, an environmental officer with the Pantang hospital, said he was given the accommodation by the hospital when asked if he came to live in the building of his own free will.
“The walling of the hospital affected my accommodation, so the hospital authorities asked me to move into the building.”
He has lived in the building for two years and believes the structure is sound.
“The structure is very strong, but from the outside, it appears weak. It only appears to be old; with a little TLC, it will look brand new.”
A resident – name withheld – stated that, while she is terrified that the building will collapse, she has no choice.
“I am scared the building may collapse on us one day, but we have nowhere to go”.
Doris Attiogbe, a mother of two, told Citi News about her dangerous living conditions.
“The building soaks the water anytime it rains, I don’t know about the other tenants though. The cement component along the stairs has recently begun to fall off.”
She added that after 5 years in the building and numerous evacuation notices, she is now ready to leave.
Dr Frank Baning, the hospital’s Medical Director, denied that the hospital’s management had authorised their stay.
“I can tell you for a fact that none of them, at least not that I am aware of, will be able to show you that they were given a letter to go and live in such a structure, and I have been at the helm of affairs since 2016.”
He also stated that the hospital is situated on an earthquake fault line in Ghana.
“I am the one pushing for it to be demolished because I’m afraid that if you are not careful, one of these days it will collapse on staff and that’s been one of my fears. You know we fall within the fault lines. Anytime there is one of those earth tremors, we at the Pantang Hospital usually feel it here, so you can just imagine if the scale goes up a little what will happen to that building. So those are some of the fears, and we won’t ask staff to live in a place like that.”
Dr Baning went on to say that the fact that residents live in the building rent-free indicates that their stay was not approved by hospital management.
He added that they were unable to evict them as planned because the occupants had filed an appeal with the Ministry of Health.
“They petitioned my bosses, that is the mental health authority and the Ministry [of Health] so as far as I’m concerned, it’s been taken up by a higher institution than Pantang hospital and [it is] being dealt with. So I would say the best people to talk to would be the Ministry because they went to petition them”.
“The minister delegated the Deputy Minister of health to come here and resolve the issue, they all saw it and said no it must come down. The municipal assembly put together a team made of engineers and security people to come and take a look and the conclusion is that it should be pulled down.”
Source: citinewsroom.com
