An excavator clears debris at the collapse site.
At least three people have been confirmed dead and more than 20 others rescued with varying degrees of injuries following the collapse of an uncompleted three-storey building at the Newtown Experimental D/A School in Accra.
The incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. on Sunday when approximately 30 worshippers, who had gathered in a makeshift church operating on the ground floor of the abandoned structure, were trapped beneath the debris.
The building, which has remained uncompleted since 2012, was originally intended to accommodate the overflow of students at the Accra Newtown Experimental D/A School but had since been repurposed informally for religious activities.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and chaos as residents and bystanders rushed to the site in a desperate attempt to rescue victims before the arrival of emergency services.
Confirming the development, the Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation, Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, said all persons trapped under the rubble had been retrieved after hours of intensive rescue operations.
“The Newtown tragedy has claimed three lives, while about 20 others have been rescued, many with multiple injuries. Rescue operations have now concluded, with no victims left under the debris,” he stated.
He added that the operation has transitioned from active rescue to the clearance phase, which involves safely removing debris to restore normalcy in the area.
“We have moved from emergency response aimed at saving lives to clearing the site to allow community activities to resume. This is a critical stage, and we must ensure that no one interferes with the process in a way that could endanger others,” he cautioned.
School Closed
In the wake of the disaster, the Ghana Education Service has suspended all academic activities at the school to pave the way for investigations into the cause of the structural failure.
Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM, the Director-General of Ghana Education Service (GES), Ernest Kofi Davis, said an emergency meeting would be convened to determine the next course of action.
He stressed that students would not be allowed to return until the structural integrity of all buildings on the campus is thoroughly assessed.
“We are working with regional and national teams, including the estate department, to ensure that all remaining structures are safe. If they are not, students will be advised to stay away,” he said.
Churches Ordered Out of School Premises
Meanwhile, the Municipal Chief Executive for Ayawaso Central, Rudolf Collinwoode Williams, has directed all churches operating within school premises in the municipality to cease activities with immediate effect.
He said the directive was necessary to safeguard lives and maintain public order, particularly in light of the tragedy.
“Churches operating within school premises in the Ayawaso Central Municipality should desist immediately. From now on, every Sunday, a task force will be deployed to ensure compliance. Those who flout the directive do so at their own risk,” he said on JoyNews.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke