The Ghana Education Service (GES) has suspended classes at the Accra Newtown Experimental D/A School following the collapse of a nearby building that left three people dead and 20 others injured. The directive was issued as authorities moved to assess the safety of structures within and around the school premises.
According to GES Director-General Prof Ernest Kofi Davis, students have been asked not to return to school until a full safety inspection is carried out. He said the service would work with both regional and national teams, including technical officers from its estate department, to determine whether the remaining structures are safe for academic activities.
The incident occurred on Sunday, March 29, 2026, when an uncompleted multi-storey structure near the school reportedly collapsed during a worship service. Emergency responders from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) were dispatched after the distress call was received, with rescue teams beginning search and recovery efforts shortly after arriving at the scene.
Reports indicate that 23 people, including three minors, were trapped under the rubble. While 20 survivors were rescued and rushed to hospital for treatment, three victims — two females and one male — were confirmed dead and later handed over to the police.
The tragedy has triggered renewed concern over building safety, regulation and enforcement in Ghana, especially in areas where schoolchildren and residents may be exposed to structurally unsafe developments. It has also intensified calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the collapse.
