Cracked Tesano-Apenkwa School Building: Engineer Blames Poor Maintenance, Weak Oversight

A civil engineer, Ing. Emmanuel Asante, has raised concerns over the cracked school building at the Tesano-Apenkwa Cluster of Schools, attributing the situation largely to poor maintenance and lapses in structural oversight.

Speaking on Kessben TV’s Maakye show, Ing. Asante emphasized that while cracks in buildings can be repaired, the real challenge lies in the persistent neglect of routine maintenance.

“There is always a mechanism to repair cracked buildings. Our problem is lack of maintenance,” he stated.

He explained that the strength and durability of any structure depend on critical engineering factors such as beam differentials, column dimensions, reinforcement, and the integrity of the foundation. According to him, block work in most buildings primarily serves partition purposes and supports beams, rather than providing core structural strength.

Ing. Asante further noted that many structural cracks are caused by foundation settlement, which can be influenced by natural geological processes.

“Earth movement occurs within specific periods, and this affects the soil in which building foundations are embedded,” he explained, adding that every structure requires a foundation that matches its size and load demands.

He warned that when foundations are compromised, cracks—and in severe cases, total collapse—become inevitable.

The engineer also criticized the municipal authorities for what he described as negligence in enforcing maintenance standards, while pointing out that some contractors fail to engage skilled labor in construction projects.

“Structures are about human lives. We must not allow politics or negligence to undermine safety,” he cautioned.

Ing. Asante called on relevant authorities to take urgent action to address the situation and prevent potential disasters.