The death toll from the collapse of an uncompleted three-storey building in Accra New Town has risen to three, according to the Interior Minister, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak. The minister provided the updated figure on Monday after cross-checking data from multiple emergency response agencies involved in the ongoing rescue operation.
The structure, located within the premises of the Accra New Town Experimental Basic School and reportedly used by Christian worshippers, collapsed on Sunday following a heavy rainstorm. The initial death toll was two.
Rescue teams worked through the night under floodlights, racing against time to locate any survivors still trapped beneath the rubble. Personnel from the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and the National Ambulance Service remain deployed at the scene.
Speaking to the press, Minister Muntaka emphasized the effort to ensure the accuracy of the casualty figures.
“So far, information that has been cross-checked, double-checked, visited all the hospitals, just to be sure that we don’t give any information that may be far away from the fact,” he said.
Acknowledging the initial difficulty in determining the exact number of people in the building at the time of the collapse, the minister stated that coordinated cross-referencing had provided a clearer picture.
According to the minister, a total of 23 people were involved in the incident. “What we can say is that there was a total of 23 people. Unfortunately, we’ve lost three – a male and two females. They’re not able to tell names for now,” he disclosed.
He added that 20 victims are receiving treatment at various health facilities across the capital, including the Police Hospital, Mamobi Hospital, and a private facility. Women and minors constitute a significant portion of those affected, the minister noted, confirming that none of the deceased are minors.
“Out of the 23, the total number of females amongst them is 15, with eight males. Out of this, we have seven minors, but those who have lost their lives, there’s no minor,” he stated.
The minister commended the sustained efforts of emergency responders. “The Ambulance Service and their team have been here the whole night, and they’ve done a wonderful job. We are really grateful. Gratitude to the media and everybody that I’ve forgotten to mention,” he added.
The collapse followed a heavy rainstorm on Sunday. Early responders included residents and bystanders who used basic tools and their bare hands to pull victims from the debris before official teams arrived.
Authorities say a full investigation into the cause of the collapse will be launched once rescue operations are concluded.
