The Deputy Majority Leader who doubles as Member of Parliament for Cape Coast South Constituency in the Central Region, George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, has bemoaned the poor maintenance culture of overaged buildings, blaming it for the perennial disasters that continue to claim lives and destroy property in Cape Coast.
He made the comments during a visit to victims of the recent torrential rainstorm, accompanied by the Cape Coast Mayor, representatives from NADMO, and other sympathizers.
“Buildings spanning 200 years without maintenance in the past 20 years are causing these perennial disasters. We’ve lost souls and structures because we refuse to maintain what we have. This has to change,” Ricketts said.
The storm collapsed 8 houses, with 4 persons recorded dead, with 3 of them being children as several others sustained injuries. According to a press statement issued by the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly on June 21, 2026, a total of 796 individuals have been displaced while 95 individuals were directly affected by the disaster.
Ricketts advised tenants of family houses to contribute toward the upkeep of their structures and to seek further support from his office and the Mayor’s office. “Maintenance is a shared responsibility. Let’s contribute and protect our lives and property,” he urged.
He also promised immediate relief for victims, including mattresses, food items, and minimized rental apartments to house displaced families while reconstruction begins in the future.
He and his entourage then interacted with the health professionals at the Ewim Polyclinic and the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital who administered healthcare for the victims.
The residents welcomed the MP’s intervention and called for solutions to address the growing number of dilapidated buildings in the metropolis.
