Three people have been confirmed dead and 20 others rescued following the collapse of an uncompleted building at Accra New Town, authorities have said.
The incident occurred on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at a structure located within the premises of the Accra New Town Experimental Basic School. The building, reportedly being used as a makeshift place of worship, caved in during a heavy rainstorm, trapping several occupants beneath the rubble.
Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak confirmed on Monday that the death toll had risen from an initial two to three after verification by multiple emergency agencies.
“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 told the press.
According to the Minister, a total of 23 people were involved in the incident, comprising 15 females and eight males, including seven minors. “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, adding that none of the deceased were minors.
The remaining 20 victims are currently receiving treatment at various health facilities, including the Police Hospital and facilities in Mamobi.
Rescue operations, led by personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Police Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation, and the National Ambulance Service, intensified overnight as teams worked under floodlights to locate survivors.
Officials say determining the exact number of people in the building at the time of the collapse proved challenging, but coordinated efforts helped establish a clearer picture. “As we all know, it is very difficult for you to go to how many people were in there, but at least with the cross-check from the police and National Ambulance Service,” the Minister noted.
Earlier, Public Relations Officer of the Fire Service, Alex King Nartey, indicated that rescuers relied on faint cries from beneath the debris to locate trapped victims.
The cause of the collapse remains unknown, but officials say a full investigation will be launched after rescue operations are concluded.
