At least three people have died and 20 others have been hospitalised following the collapse of a three-storey building at Accra New Town, according to Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak. The latest official update comes as emergency teams continue search and rescue operations amid fears that more victims could still be trapped beneath the rubble.
The tragic incident occurred on Sunday, March 29, at an uncompleted structure within the premises of the Accra New Town Experimental Basic School, a location that was also reportedly being used by Christian worshippers at the time of the collapse. Authorities had initially confirmed two deaths, but the figure has since risen to three after further verification.
Speaking at the scene, the Interior Minister said officials had taken time to verify casualty figures before releasing them publicly. He confirmed that a total of 23 people were involved in the incident, with the deceased made up of two women and one man. The identities of the victims had not yet been released at the time of reporting.
Mr Muntaka also disclosed that the injured are receiving treatment at various health facilities, including the Police Hospital, Mamobi Hospital, and a private medical facility. He further revealed that 15 of the victims are female, while eight are male, and that seven minors were among those affected, although no child was reported among the dead.
Rescue efforts continued through the night under floodlights, with personnel from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, NADMO, and the National Ambulance Service deployed to the scene. The cause of the collapse remains unknown, but the incident has already triggered growing calls for accountability and tighter enforcement of building safety regulations.
