The Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, has confirmed that all individuals trapped under the collapsed building near the Newtown Experimental D/A School in Accra have been successfully recovered.
The building collapsed on Sunday, March 29, while worshippers were gathered on the premises, resulting in three fatalities and leaving around 20 others injured.
Dr. Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), has confirmed that search and rescue operations at the Accra Newtown collapse site have been completed, marking the end of the emergency phase.
He explained that authorities have now moved from active rescue to the controlled clearing of debris.
“We have entered a phase different from emergency response aimed at saving lives and property. The next stage involves clearing the site to allow community activities to resume. This is a critical phase, and it is important to ensure that no one interferes with the process, as it could pose danger to others,” Dr. Kuyon said.
Sniffer dogs were deployed during the operation to confirm that no victims remained trapped under the rubble.
Dr. Kuyon commended the swift and coordinated efforts of emergency teams, whose work led to the successful recovery of all victims.
The incident has renewed concerns over building safety standards, particularly the use of incomplete structures for public gatherings. Authorities have stated that investigations will continue to determine the cause of the collapse as debris clearing progresses.
