Avenor Building Collapse Kills Two as Officials Demand Tougher Enforcement of Building Regulations

Two people have died and two others were rescued after a three-storey building collapsed at Avenor in Accra’s North Kaneshie area, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement of Ghana’s building regulations

ACCRA, Ghana — Two people have been confirmed dead following the collapse of a three-storey building at Avenor in Accra’s North Kaneshie area, as government officials renewed calls for stricter enforcement of building regulations across the country.

Emergency responders recovered the bodies of two victims from the rubble on Sunday after hours of intensive search and rescue operations involving the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces.

Two other individuals were rescued alive and transported to hospital for treatment, authorities said.

The collapse occurred at approximately 4:25 a.m. on Sunday and triggered a large-scale emergency response as rescuers searched through debris amid fears that additional victims could be trapped beneath the wreckage. Rescue operations later concluded with no further casualties discovered.

Vice President Calls for Responsibility

Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang visited the scene and urged Ghanaians to act responsibly and comply with laws designed to prevent avoidable disasters.

“As we stand here, we are told that somebody is trapped in there. Why should this happen? Because somebody did not do the right thing,” the Vice President said during her inspection of the site.

She stressed the importance of accountability and compliance within the construction sector, noting that adherence to building regulations is essential to protecting lives and property.

Interior Minister Demands Stronger Enforcement

Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak also visited the site and called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to strengthen enforcement of building regulations and planning approvals. Speaking to journalists, the minister said local authorities bear primary responsibility for issuing building permits and ensuring construction projects comply with approved plans.

“In terms of building permits, it is the district assembly. That is why I am calling on the Local Government Ministry and the district assemblies to rise up to the occasion,” he said.

He further warned that developers who obtain permits must strictly adhere to approved specifications and avoid unauthorised modifications during construction.

Cause Under Investigation

Authorities have not yet determined the exact cause of the collapse. However, Alex King Nartey, Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, said preliminary assessments suggested the structure may have lacked adequate structural integrity.

Investigators are expected to examine whether construction standards, regulatory compliance, structural design or other factors contributed to the incident. The collapse also caused damage to nearby structures, including shops and a mosque located behind the building, according to emergency officials.

Renewed Scrutiny of Construction Safety

The tragedy has renewed public debate about construction safety standards and regulatory oversight in Ghana. Building collapses in urban areas have repeatedly raised concerns among engineers, planners and policymakers about compliance with planning approvals, quality assurance processes and enforcement mechanisms.

Officials say investigations into the Avenor collapse will seek to establish the circumstances that led to the incident and determine whether any regulatory breaches occurred. For the families of the victims, however, attention is focused on mourning those lost while awaiting answers about how the disaster happened.

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