NADMO demolishes four-storey building in Osu over safety concerns

A four-storey building in Osu has been demolished by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other state agencies after it was declared structurally unsafe, raising fresh concerns about the condition of ageing buildings in the Greater Accra Region.

The demolition exercise was carried out on Monday, June 8, following a comprehensive assessment of the structure, which had partially collapsed a day earlier. Authorities deemed the building a serious threat to public safety and moved swiftly to prevent a possible disaster.

NADMO undertook the exercise in collaboration with the Ghana National Fire Service and the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly. Excavators and other heavy equipment were deployed to the site to safely bring down the remaining portions of the weakened structure.

Officials explained that the decision was taken to protect residents, pedestrians and businesses operating within the area, as experts warned that the building could suffer a complete collapse if left standing.

The structure, which was estimated to be more than 50 years old, had experienced structural challenges for several years. Originally constructed as a seven-storey building, it had previously lost three floors following an earlier collapse, leaving only four storeys in place.

Following Sunday’s partial collapse, engineers and disaster management officials conducted further inspections and concluded that the remaining section of the building could no longer be considered safe for habitation or commercial use.

Authorities indicated that the demolition formed part of broader efforts to address the growing threat posed by weakened and deteriorating structures across the capital. The onset of the rainy season has heightened concerns about the vulnerability of ageing buildings, particularly those that have not undergone routine maintenance or structural assessments.

The Osu demolition comes at a time when public attention is focused on building safety following a recent collapse at Avenor in North Kaneshie. The three-storey building disaster resulted in fatalities and injuries, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement of building regulations and proactive inspections of old structures.

In the wake of that incident, Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak disclosed that authorities have identified several buildings across the Greater Accra Region that are considered unsafe and may be demolished in the coming days.

According to the Minister, assessments conducted by NADMO have revealed a number of structures that pose significant risks to occupants and surrounding communities. He indicated that evacuation processes are underway where necessary to ensure public safety before demolition exercises begin.