The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly has launched the ‘Operation Paint Your Building’ campaign, led by the Western Regional Minister and acting Mayor of the Assembly, Hon. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah.
The campaign was launched yesterday, July 20, to raise awareness and encourage owners of buildings in the Metropolis, particularly those along ceremonial roads such as the Nkroful Junction to Apollo Highway, Takoradi-Accra High, Takoradi-Kwesimintsim Highway, and those in and around Takoradi and Sekondi Central Business District, to paint or repaint their properties.
According to Hon. Darko-Mensah, the campaign is under paragraph 2 of the STMA’s Bye-law on Premises Maintenance, 2017, which states that a household, an owner or occupier of premises within the area of administration shall keep the house clean, white-washed, or painted regularly at least once every five years.
The campaign will also tackle the issue of abandoned, unfinished, and dangerous structures that are in disrepair or have collapsed, endangering lives and property.
Owners of such buildings will be notified and given a time frame to renovate, complete, or demolish them; otherwise, the assembly will be forced to demolish such buildings and charge the owners for the expenses incurred in the exercise if they refuse to comply with the directives.
The assembly intends to enforce this section of the bye-laws, according to the acting mayor, as part of the effort to make Sekondi-Takoradi the brightest city in the country.
“You will agree with me that, the ‘Operation Paint Your Building’ campaign has the potential to change the face of our Metropolis to the rest of the world if it receives the expected support from all stakeholders ….paint on a building or any structure is not only meant to enhance the beauty of the outward aesthetic looking but also ensures its longevity as much as possible,” he added.
As part of the awareness campaign, some information and education materials have been developed to explain and re-emphasize to stakeholders the importance of supporting the exercise.
Hon. Darko-Mensah mentioned that to ensure a smooth implementation of the exercise, the Assembly is in the process of engaging a paint manufacturing company to sell at a discounted rate to building owners in the Metropolis.
“Again, colour codes will be assigned based on the local plans of the Assembly as part of the implementation strategy, in other words, specific colours will be chosen for each community or neighbourhood to encourage pattern, ensure standardization and enhance ease in identifying locations or destinations,” Hon. Darko-Mensah added.
He did, however, state that buildings along roads earmarked for reconstruction will be considered during the enforcement due to the anticipated impacts of the road construction works on the buildings.
