The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has given residents occupying structurally compromised buildings in the Central Region a final 14-day deadline to vacate their premises or face forced demolition, with the cost of the exercise charged to property owners.
The directive follows recent incidents of flooding, mudslides, landslides and building collapses across the region, which have resulted in 18 deaths and affected more than 5,000 people in 13 districts.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on June 23, 2026, the Central Regional Director of NADMO, Emmanuel Kwesi Dawood, said authorities can no longer postpone action against dangerous structures that pose a serious threat to public safety.
He explained that many of the affected buildings had already been identified as unsafe and marked for demolition. However, repeated requests from landlords, tenants and family members seeking additional time to relocate have delayed enforcement efforts.
According to Mr. Dawood, experience has shown that many occupants who request extensions ultimately fail to move out, despite the clear dangers associated with remaining in the buildings.
He noted that some weakened structures have already collapsed, causing deaths and injuries, while others have fallen onto neighbouring buildings, resulting in additional casualties and property damage.
As a result, NADMO has issued what it describes as a final evacuation notice, giving occupants two weeks to leave and, if they choose, undertake demolition at their own expense.
Mr. Dawood warned that once the grace period expires, authorities will proceed with compulsory demolition of any remaining unsafe structures. Property owners who fail to comply will be responsible for covering all demolition-related costs.
He attributed the increasing risk of structural failure to the age and deteriorating condition of many buildings in the region, some of which were constructed more than a century ago using materials such as swish and sand.
According to him, years of neglect and inadequate maintenance have left many of these structures in a hazardous state, putting lives and property at considerable risk.
