The Ayawaso West Municipality Assembly has clarified that it did not issue building permits to private developers undertaking construction works along the GIMPA-Toyota road within the municipality. According to the Municipal Chief Executive, Dr. Michael Mensah, the construction activities on lands belonging to the University of Ghana (UG), Legon, are being supervised by the university's Development Office. This has created a jurisdictional issue, with the Assembly encountering challenges with the university regarding building permits.
Dr. Mensah explained that the University of Ghana has indicated that its Development Office is responsible for supervising developments on its lands. As a result, the Assembly has had to navigate this issue, which has led to confusion over who has the authority to issue building permits. The MCE made this disclosure during a public hearing before Parliament's Committee on Local Government and Rural Development, as part of the Committee's consideration of the 2025 Annual Statements by Audit Committees.
The public hearing was part of the Committee's engagement with the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Regional Coordinating Councils, and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). During the hearing, Dr. Mensah emphasized that the Assembly had officially written to the University of Ghana, Legon, concerning the ongoing construction works by private developers and the damage being caused to roads within the municipality.
According to Dr. Mensah, the deterioration of the GIMPA-Toyota road can be attributed partly to inadequate drainage systems, coupled with the ongoing construction activities. The Assembly is concerned about the impact of these construction works on the infrastructure within the municipality and is seeking to clarify its role in regulating development activities on university lands.
The issue highlights the complexities of jurisdiction and regulatory authority in Ghana's urban areas, particularly where educational institutions have significant landholdings. The University of Ghana, Legon, has a large estate with various developments, including residential, commercial, and educational facilities. The Assembly's attempt to assert its authority over building permits has been met with resistance from the university, which insists that its Development Office is responsible for supervising developments on its lands.
The Ayawaso West Municipality Assembly's clarification on the matter is an effort to address concerns about the lack of coordination and regulatory oversight in the area. The Assembly's concerns about the impact of construction activities on infrastructure and the environment are valid, and it is essential to resolve the jurisdictional issues to ensure effective governance and regulation of development activities.
The outcome of this dispute will have implications for future development activities in the area and may require a re-examination of the regulatory framework governing building permits and development on university lands. The engagement between the Assembly and the university is crucial in resolving the issue and ensuring that development activities are carried out in a coordinated and regulated manner.
Key points
- The Ayawaso West Municipality Assembly denies issuing building permits for construction works along the GIMPA-Toyota road, citing jurisdiction issues with the University of Ghana.
- The University of Ghana's Development Office is supervising construction activities on its lands, leading to confusion over regulatory authority.
- The dispute highlights the complexities of jurisdiction and regulatory authority in Ghana's urban areas, particularly where educational institutions have significant landholdings.
