The death toll from the collapse of a four-storey building at Avenor in Accra’s North Kaneshie area has risen to three after one of the two survivors rescued from the rubble succumbed to injuries sustained in the incident.
The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, confirmed the latest casualty figure, revealing that one of the deceased was the owner of a Mothercare shop operating within the building.
The structure collapsed in the early hours of Sunday June 7, 2026, trapping four people. Rescue teams initially recovered two individuals alive and transported them to hospital for treatment, while two others were pronounced dead at the scene. The subsequent death of one of the injured victims has increased the confirmed death toll to three.
The building, believed to have been constructed between 2020 and 2021, housed both commercial and residential occupants. Among the businesses operating in the facility was a Mothercare retail outlet.
Investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing, but early assessments by engineers have raised serious concerns about the building’s structural integrity and compliance with regulations.
Officials from the Ghana Institution of Engineering who inspected the site indicated that the structure may have been erected without the required building permit from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
Engineers also observed what appeared to be poor-quality concrete, suggesting that the materials used may not have met the minimum standards necessary for a building of that size.
Structural Engineer Emmanuel Aidoo stressed the importance of professional oversight in construction projects, warning that large structures cannot be safely developed without proper engineering input.
“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 cautioned.
Authorities are expected to conduct further technical investigations, including concrete strength tests and detailed structural analyses, before determining the definitive cause of the collapse.
The Avenor tragedy marks the second building collapse recorded in Accra within a week. On June 3, another building collapsed at Adenta New Site, resulting in one death and leaving four others injured.
The back-to-back incidents have renewed public concern over building safety standards in the capital and intensified calls for stricter enforcement of building permit regulations, routine structural inspections, and greater accountability within the construction sector.
As investigations continue, city authorities face mounting pressure to address regulatory lapses and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Source: Mavis Fantevi
