Kumasi will withhold building permits without disability access, KMA chief says
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The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly says new buildings serving the public will not get permits unless they include ramps and accessible facilities, as its chief executive admitted most existing public infrastructure in the city is not disability-friendly.
The Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, has declared that new buildings serving the public will not receive permits unless they provide accessibility for persons with disabilities, conceding that most public infrastructure in the metropolis, including his own office, is not disability-friendly.
He said the challenge stems from the fact that most public buildings in the city were constructed before the passage of Ghana's Disability Act and occupy old institutional structures that were not designed with accessibility in mind. "Even my office and the entire KMA complex are not PWD-friendly, but these are old buildings and there is nothing we can do about them now," he said, adding that accessibility would be prioritised in any future infrastructure development or redevelopment on KMA premises.
Speaking to Adom News, Mr Boadi said he had ensured strict enforcement of the accessibility requirements of the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) for all new developments since he assumed office. "For every new building permit proposal that comes before us, we ensure that if it is going to serve the public, you must create ramps and channels that will ensure accessibility for our brothers and sisters with disabilities before we give approval," he said.
He disclosed that the Assembly has captured 18 projects in its 2027 development plan aimed at making public spaces more inclusive. These include a major renovation of parks and community centres across the metropolis, involving the demolition and reconstruction of stages to incorporate appropriate ramps and accessible facilities so that persons with disabilities can use the platforms.
Mr Boadi said the Prempeh Assembly Hall, which is not disability-friendly, is among the facilities whose renovation has been captured in the Assembly's budget. He reaffirmed KMA's commitment to promoting disability inclusion and ensuring full participation of persons with disabilities in the social and economic life of Kumasi.