On Sunday, June 7, a three-storey building collapsed at Avenor in Accra, claiming the lives of three people and leaving several others injured. Reacting to the incident while addressing the media on Monday, June 8, the Public Relations Officer of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Gilbert Nii Ankrah, revealed that preliminary investigations suggest the structure was constructed without a valid permit.

He added that, as part of efforts to strengthen oversight and prevent similar incidents, the Assembly will impose strict sanctions on individuals found culpable of breaching building regulations.

"Per our records, there are no permitting regulations for this particular building. But investigations are going to begin to look into it.Some of these things are done most of the time at the blind side of the assembly. But just as the Mayor has said, investigations into the entire permitting process will begin, and whoever is responsible will be held accountable," he added.

Meanwhile, sixteen (16) buildings across the Greater Accra Region have been marked for demolition in the coming days, the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has disclosed. Speaking to the media, the Minister indicated these buildings are structurally unsafe and pose a threat to public safety. According to him, the upcoming exercise forms part of efforts to prevent further loss of life from building collapses.

“Currently, NADMO has identified about 16 buildings within the Greater Accra Region that have to come down. We are going to ensure that, coming into the week, they will go and get all those buildings down. We are currently doing the evacuations, and they must bring all those buildings down. I mean, some things are natural, and God will take care of the supernatural, but for the natural ones, we have to take care of them,” he added.

In recent times, Ghana has witnessed several building collapses that have resulted in loss of life, largely due to ageing, poor maintenance, and substandard construction practices.

Three individuals were left in critical condition after a building collapsed at Avenor in North Kaneshie, opposite the Ashfoam showroom and adjacent to Melcom Plus, on Sunday, June 7. According to preliminary reports, the building was still under construction at the time of the collapse.

The collapse of a two-storey apartment building near Da Yesu Ase Supermarket at Adenta New Site during a heavy downpour on Wednesday evening, June 3, also claimed the life of a Ghanaian woman, Margaret Kpeli. The victim, who was in her late 30s was handed over to the Adenta District Police for preservation and further investigation.

Five occupants, comprising three adults and two children, were also trapped beneath the rubble. They include Fred Atagba, believed to be in his late 30s; Solomon; Seyeram Dzigda (child); and David Dzigda (child). Meanwhile, the cause of the fire is yet to be known.

In April, residents of Awutu Papaase Number 1 in the Awutu Senya West District were in a state of despair after a building collapse left a four-year-old boy, Godsway Nuchuga, dead, and his 35-year-old elder brother, Seth Nuchuga, in critical condition. According to reports, a heavy downpour caused the collapse of the building in which the victims were trapped. Meanwhile, Seth Nuchuga is receiving treatment at the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital.

On Sunday, March 29, the collapse of an uncompleted four-storey building near the Experimental D/A School in Accra Newtown, claimed the lives of three. A total of 20 were rescued after being trapped.

The victims were part of a group of worshipers who had gathered inside the structure for service. Unfortunately, the collapse occurred while the service was ongoing, trapping several individuals beneath the rubble.

According to reports, 23 individuals, comprising 15 females and 8 males, including three minors, were caught in the collapse. In 2024, four individuals lost their lives after a three-storey building at Kasoa New Market in the Awutu Senya East Municipality in the Central Region collapsed.

Eyewitnesses described the tragic event, noting that the victims included young workers and trainees. "The sad incident happened at Kasoa. This three-storey building collapsed, and four people have died; may their souls rest in peace. This is so sad. Some are young girls learning a trade as well as workers. This happened at the Kasoa New Market."

According to eyewitnesses, the three-storey building caved in while workers were on the second floor. Among the deceased was a carpenter who died on the spot. The other deceased persons lost their lives while being transported to the hospital.

A mason in his early forties lost his life on July 17, 2024, while working on a two-storey building in Sewua in the Ashanti Region. The deceased, Kwaku Gyemfi, was the lead constructor at the site. Witnesses reported that Gyemfi was attempting to reinforce collapsing pillars when the structure failed.

His assistant had warned him of the impending collapse, but he was trapped before he could escape. A school building in Adeiso in the Upper West Akim District of the Eastern Region collapsed on February 15, 2024, during a rainstorm.

The collapse injured 10 out of 50 students present, with four suffering severe injuries. Despite ongoing concerns about the building's deteriorating condition, no preventive measures were taken.

The incident occurred as students and teachers sought shelter during a sports event. In West Legon, Accra, a two-storey shop complex collapsed during a fire incident, injuring four firefighters from the Legon Fire Station. The fire service had responded to a distress call about a blaze at the location.

The collapse occurred as they were working to extinguish the fire. Two of the injured firefighters were treated at the University of Ghana Medical Centre for their critical conditions.

Earlier this year, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) spent more than two hours rescuing a construction worker trapped under a collapsed building at the Kasoa New Market in the Central Region. The old residential structure was reportedly undergoing renovation by masons hired by the building’s owner.

In a similar development, a pit collapse at an illegal mining site at Kasotie in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday night, October 1, claimed the lives of seven illegal miners who were trapped underground.

According to reports, the pit collapse, which occurred on Wednesday night, October 1, also left four injured, while several miners were feared trapped. Meanwhile, rescue efforts were carried out by the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in collaboration with emergency services and local volunteers.

For years, the country's efforts to nip the canker in the bud have not yielded the needed results. Among recent measures taken to protect water bodies from illegal miners is the deployment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).

The Secretariat includes the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), the Narcotics Control Commission, and the National Security Secretariat.

Addressing the security forces, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Amarh Kofi-Buah, directed the team to ruthlessly counter the activities of galamsey operators as they are the enemies of the state.

“Any recalcitrant entering into these zones is not merely a trespasser. They are an enemy of the state. You are to be firm. You are to be resolute. You are to be ruthless. And please, take it from me, you will take no obstructionist instruction from any big man. Remember, the biggest man in Ghana is the President of the Republic, and he’s the one who has sent you,” Mr. Kofi-Buah charged.