In response to recent incidents of collapsed-storey buildings under construction, a team of investigators has been dispatched to the affected communities to determine the actual causes of these disasters.
Within a span of two weeks, the country has witnessed four separate cases of building collapses, with three occurring in the Greater Accra Region and one in the Northern Region.
The investigation team consists of professionals from four built environment institutions: the Ghana Institute of Architects, the Ghana Institute of Planners, the Ghana Institution of Engineering, and the Ghana Institution of Surveyors.
Each group, comprising five members, will focus on the collapse incidents at the Old Bortianor, Adentan, and La Nkwatanang-Madina municipalities in the Greater Accra Region, as well as the University of Development Studies Campus in the Sagnarigu Municipality of the Northern Region.
Mr Foster Osae-Akonnor, President of the Ghana Institute of Architects, confirmed that the investigators commenced their work on May 22, 2023, and have been diligently gathering relevant information based on their terms of reference.
He expressed confidence that the investigation would be completed by June 5, 2023, noting the cooperation received from the local assemblies and other stakeholders.
Preliminary findings by the Engineering Council of Ghana indicate that poor supervision, particularly on the part of the local assemblies, played a significant role in the collapses.
Mr Wise Ametefe, the Registrar of the Council, revealed that initial investigations at the disaster sites revealed instances where building owners either did not obtain the necessary permits or exceeded the approved construction limits.
Regarding the Bortianor Church building incident, the Council highlighted several flaws in the construction, such as unreinforced concrete columns and subpar concrete work, indicating a lack of adequate supervision.
The ongoing investigations seek to uncover further details and shed light on the root causes of these tragic events.
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