Vice president visits Accra New Town collapse site, confirms 3 dead, 23 rescued

Ghana’s Vice President, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has visited the scene of the tragic building collapse at Accra New Town Experimental School, where she received a full briefing on rescue operations and the current situation.

The incident, which involved the collapse of a multi-storey structure at Accra New Town, resulted in the rescue of 23 victims, while three lives were sadly lost.

The Vice President was accompanied by the Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, as well as officials from key emergency and security agencies, including the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the National Ambulance Service, and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

She commended the coordinated response of the various agencies, describing their efforts as swift and effective. Special recognition was also given to members of the local community, who acted as first responders and played a crucial role in rescuing victims in the early stages.

Rescue operations are still ongoing as authorities work to fully clear the debris in the coming days.

On behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, the Vice President extended condolences to the bereaved families and assured affected victims of government support.

She stressed the need to go beyond emergency response and tackle the root causes of such incidents, particularly the enforcement of building regulations and accountability within the construction sector to prevent future tragedies.

Following her visit to the site, the Vice President toured health facilities where victims are receiving treatment, including the 37 Military Hospital, the Police Hospital,where she met the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno,and the University of Ghana Medical Centre, alongside the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.

The visit underscores government’s commitment to supporting victims and ensuring accountability as investigations into the cause of the collapse continue.