Greater Accra Cracks Down on Unsafe Structures After Fatal Building Collapses in Avenor and Adenta

The Greater Accra Region is facing a structural safety crisis following a series of building collapses that have claimed at least three lives and left several others injured. In response to these tragedies, Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak has announced that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has identified 16 structurally compromised buildings across the metropolis for immediate demolition. This aggressive enforcement strategy aims to prevent further loss of life as authorities grapple with a surge in unauthorized and substandard construction projects that have bypassed municipal safety protocols. The crackdown comes as a direct consequence of recent incidents in Avenor, Adenta, and Madina, which have exposed deep-seated failures in building regulation enforcement. One of the most harrowing incidents occurred in the North Industrial Area of Avenor, where a multi-storey building collapsed, resulting in three confirmed deaths. Among the victims was 40-year-old Esther Donkor, a trader and mother of four who lived in the building. Accra Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey confirmed that the deceased also included the owner of a Mothercare shop operating within the structure. Preliminary investigations into the Avenor collapse, a building constructed around 2020, revealed that the project lacked a valid building permit and utilized substandard construction materials. These findings are mirrored in Adenta, where a three-storey building collapsed on June 3, trapping five people. A Joint Technical Investigative Committee found that the developers had flagrantly ignored multiple stop-work orders and added an unauthorized floor, leading to a progressive structural failure. In Osu, city authorities have already begun the process of clearing dangerous structures to avert further disasters. The Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA), led by Municipal Chief Executive Nii Adjei Tawiah, supervised the controlled demolition of a dilapidated multi-storey building on June 8. The 50-year-old structure had already suffered partial collapses and was deemed a significant public safety hazard in the busy commercial district. The Joint Technical Investigative Committee, comprising engineering experts and statutory bodies, continues to analyze concrete samples from various sites to document regulatory breaches. Authorities are now calling for stricter adherence to the building code and are encouraging residents to report any buildings showing signs of distress or unauthorized construction to help prevent future tragedies.