On Saturday, September 23rd 2023, a three-storey building that was under construction behind Ofankor Market near Asofan suffered a collapse. The exact cause of the collapse remains uncertain, although some sources speculate that heavy rains the day before may have played a role. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in this incident.
A worker at the construction site noticed signs of the impending collapse and promptly raised an alarm, ensuring the safe evacuation of everyone present.
The Public Relations Department of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has initiated an investigation into the collapse. At this point, they cannot confirm whether the building had a valid building permit. ADO1 Alex King Nartey, the spokesperson for GNFS, expressed reservations about the quality of materials used in the construction of the collapsed building.
He remarked, “The tenants stated that there were no individuals trapped inside the building. They mentioned that no construction work had been ongoing in the building for approximately six months. However, when we interviewed a neighbor, he indicated that someone was in the process of plastering when they realized the building was on the verge of collapsing. He promptly alerted others. This presents a contradiction, and I believe the tenants may be withholding information to protect their landlady.”
Nartey added, “The precise cause of the collapse remains undetermined, but I have doubts about whether proper building materials were employed or if safety precautions were followed. While the tenants attributed it to the previous day’s heavy rains, this should not have been enough to bring down an entire building.”
Source: omanghana.com