16 buildings in Greater Accra marked for demolition – Muntaka

The government has announced plans to demolish 16 buildings identified as structurally compromised across the Greater Accra Region as authorities intensify efforts to prevent future building-related disasters.

The decision comes in the aftermath of the collapse of a three-storey structure at Avenor, a suburb of North Kaneshie, on Sunday, June 7. The incident resulted in the deaths of two people while three others sustained injuries and were rushed for medical attention.

Speaking during an inspection visit to the disaster site, Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak disclosed that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) had completed preliminary assessments and identified several structures considered unsafe for occupation.

According to the Minister, immediate steps are being taken to evacuate residents and occupants from the affected buildings before demolition works commence. He stressed that government agencies would act swiftly to ensure that the structures do not pose further danger to the public.

“Currently, NADMO has identified about 16 buildings within the Greater Accra Region that have to come down. We are going to ensure that, coming into the week, they will go and get all those buildings down.

“We are currently doing the evacuations, and they must bring all those buildings down. I mean, some things are natural, and God will take care of the supernatural, but for the natural ones, we have to take care of them.”

The Interior Minister explained that the planned demolitions form part of a wider strategy aimed at reducing avoidable disasters and safeguarding lives and property. He noted that the government remains committed to strengthening disaster prevention measures and ensuring that buildings deemed hazardous are addressed before they result in fatalities.

The collapse at Avenor has once again brought the issue of building safety to the forefront of national discussion. Over the years, Ghana has witnessed several incidents involving weakened or poorly constructed structures, raising concerns about compliance with building regulations and maintenance standards.

Urban planning experts and disaster management professionals have consistently called for stricter enforcement of construction guidelines, regular structural assessments, and tougher sanctions against developers who fail to adhere to approved standards.

Residents in affected communities are expected to cooperate with authorities as evacuation and demolition exercises begin. Officials say the intervention is necessary to protect lives and prevent a recurrence of tragedies similar to the one recorded at Avenor.

The latest development signals a renewed determination by government agencies to tackle the growing threat posed by ageing and unsafe buildings, particularly in densely populated urban areas where the consequences of structural failure can be devastating.