The death toll from the collapse of a four-storey building at Avenor in North Kaneshie has increased to three after one of the two victims rescued alive from the debris later died, according to the Mayor of Accra.
Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey confirmed the revised casualty figure, noting that one of those who lost their lives was the owner of a Mothercare shop located within the building.
A total of four people were trapped when the structure collapsed in the early hours of Sunday, June 7. Rescue teams initially pulled two victims out alive and transported them to the hospital, while two others were recovered dead. One of the injured survivors later passed away, raising the number of fatalities to three.
The building, a four-storey mixed-use structure reportedly erected around 2020 or 2021, accommodated both residential tenants and commercial businesses, including the Mothercare shop.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the collapse. Engineers from the Ghana Institute of Engineers who inspected the site expressed concerns about the apparent lack of a building permit from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the poor quality of the concrete used, which they believe may not meet minimum structural standards. Structural Engineer Emmanuel Aidoo stressed the importance of professional oversight in such projects.
“These structures have to be engineered. You can’t just use your mind to construct such buildings. It’ll come back and hunt you,” he said.
Further assessments, including laboratory testing of concrete samples and structural analysis, are expected before investigators determine the exact cause of the incident.
The collapse at Avenor marks the second such tragedy in Accra within a week. On June 3, another building collapsed at Adenta New Site, resulting in one death and four injuries. The two incidents have renewed calls for stricter enforcement of building regulations, permit requirements, and routine structural safety inspections throughout the capital.
