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Gov’t urged to strengthen capacity of MMDAs to improve building permit regulation
June 14, 2026
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Gov’t urged to strengthen capacity of MMDAs to improve building permit regulation

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Key Points

  • The President of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry, Emmanuel Cherry, urges the government to bolster the capacity of MMDAs for effective regulation of physical development and building permit processing.
  • He attributes MMDAs' ineffectiveness to inadequate staffing, lack of logistics, and delayed fund releases, hindering planning enforcement and supervision.
  • The Chamber warns that these operational constraints could foster irregularities in building permit acquisition and lead to disorderly development.
  • Nicholas Frimpong Boateng of Nickseth Construction Company highlighted delayed payments from both government and private clients as a significant challenge for the construction industry.
  • Frimpong Boateng also encouraged construction firms to prioritize innovation, healthy competition, and high professional standards to drive industry growth.

Why This Matters

This article highlights critical systemic issues affecting Ghana's construction sector and urban development. Weak regulatory capacity at the MMDA level can lead to unsafe structures, unplanned settlements, and corruption, directly impacting public safety and quality of life. Furthermore, delayed payments to contractors threaten the financial stability of businesses, impeding crucial infrastructure projects and overall economic growth.

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