A building collapse at the North Industrial Area of Accra has left approximately 1,000 residents without electricity. The incident, which also resulted in one fatality and three injuries, forced the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to shut down a critical power transformer. Operations Officer for ECG's Accra West Region, Abraham Bigonu, confirmed the outage, stating that the structure was built too close to the utility installation. The station existed before the building was constructed. The collapse necessitated immediate safety measures.
Mr. Bigonu explained that the transformer was switched off due to the accident. The building's proximity to the transformer created a dangerous situation. Authorities are concerned about the safety of the infrastructure and residents. Power has been temporarily cut to prevent further hazards. The ECG plans to carry out transfers to restore power gradually. This requires careful rerouting of electricity supply.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding urban planning and infrastructure safety in Ghana. The collapse underscores the importance of adhering to building regulations and maintaining safe distances from essential utilities. In 2023, the Akufo-Addo administration reiterated its commitment to improving building control systems. The National Development Planning Commission has also stressed the need for coordinated infrastructure development. Regulatory bodies are tasked with ensuring compliance to prevent such occurrences affecting vital services.
“When you are putting up a building, it should not be too close to the roadside or to any utility installation such as a transformer,” Mr. Bigonu stated. He added, “That is why we always leave space when constructing buildings. In this case, the building was constructed too close to our transformer. We informed them.” This indicates a potential failure in oversight or disregard for prior warnings. The ECG has initiated steps to ensure power is restored safely.
Power restoration efforts and safety inspections are currently ongoing. The ECG is planning transfers to normalize operations and mitigate future risks. Residents can expect power to be restored once safety checks are complete. The incident may prompt stricter enforcement of building codes. Authorities will be watching to see how compliance is improved to protect public safety and critical infrastructure nationwide.