In Ivory Coast, it is a too-frequent “phenomenon” that arouses Abidjani’s anger: building collapses due to poor craftsmanship.
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Ten days ago, a dozen people were killed in the collapse of a five-story building under construction in the Anono district of Cocody. Last Saturday, balconies in a three-story building fell without causing any casualties. Last year, eleven buildings in Abidjan collapsed.
In Côte d’Ivoire, the rules for building permits are clear. The plans must be signed by an architect. For buildings with more than two storeys, the client, ie the owner in general, must also use a “consulting engineer” and have his place checked by a control office.
However, this regulatory framework is not far from being respected. Proven by these statistics unveiled, Monday, March 22, by the Minister of Construction, Bruno Koné.
“In fact, in the city of Abidjan, 80% of the constructions carried out today do not have a building permit,” the minister confirmed.
1/2 Le Min @ Bruno_N_Kone has at the end of a series of visits to the Anono and Bonoumin websites invited the national and international press to a conference on Monday 22 March to comment on the news of MCLU marked by building collapse in some neighborhoods. .. pic.twitter.com/RLB9QSoK8S
– MCLU (@mclu_gouv) March 22, 2021
In 2020, 2,700 minutes of offenses were prepared. Four buildings were demolished and two dangerous buildings were evacuated, but it is a drop in the ocean. The ministry “can not control everything despite the strengthening of its resources on the ground last year”, defends the minister. The case of the Anono building, in which a dozen people died, is symptomatic.
“In this case, we started the inspections on January 4 and the last inspection on February 26. So from January 4 to February 26, there was no work. We turned our backs; he resumed work. On many sides, we are in this situation. We have heard the message. From now on, all cases of non-compliance with the texts will be subject to complaints “, emphasized Bruno Koné.
Contracting authorities, architects or contractors who do not comply with the rules risk up to two years in prison and 10 million F in fines as well as administrative fines of up to 25,000 F per year. Square meters.
