Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has demanded strict obedience to building and safety rules. This comes after a structure collapsed in Accra's North Industrial Area. She stated that lessons from this incident must prevent future tragedies. The Vice President spoke to the media at the collapse site. She said the event shows what happens when rules are broken. She emphasized that everyone must be accountable.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang urged all Ghanaians to follow construction and safety laws. A building fell down in the North Industrial Area. "Somebody didn’t do the right thing," she said. She added that people who follow rules need support. "When people step out to do the right thing, all of us should support them," she stated. She believes ignoring rules and not enforcing them often causes disasters. Rules might not always seem logical. However, they are vital for order and safety. "Let’s abide by the rules. Nobody likes rules, but we need rules. Otherwise, nothing will function," she explained.
The Vice President requested a full investigation into the collapse. She insisted all involved parties must accept responsibility. "We need to do proper investigation. We must all open ourselves to be held to account. It’s all of us," she said. She suggested the disaster could have been prevented. She called for a national review of compliance and enforcement. "This really maybe needn’t have happened. But what could we have done? What do we do to ensure that going forward we are not seeing many like these?" she asked. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also warned about dangerous building methods. This is especially true in areas prone to floods or along waterways. "We know the place is prone to flooding. We know that this is a waterway. Let’s not invite unnecessary tragedy," she cautioned.
She thanked the emergency teams for their work. The fire service, police, military, and media were involved. This incident highlights ongoing challenges in Ghana's urban development. Rapid growth, particularly in Accra, often strains existing infrastructure and regulatory oversight. Data from the Ghana Statistical Service shows a consistent increase in construction permits issued over the past five years. However, reports from urban planning bodies have frequently pointed to gaps in inspection and enforcement. These issues can lead to unchecked construction practices. This can include building on waterways or using substandard materials. Such practices increase the risk of structural failures and exacerbate flood impacts.
The Vice President's call for accountability aligns with broader government efforts to improve governance and public safety. Ensuring strict adherence to building codes is crucial for infrastructure resilience. It also helps protect public funds invested in development projects. It can prevent costly damage from disasters. Strengthening regulatory bodies and ensuring adequate resources for monitoring and enforcement will be key. Failure to address these issues could lead to more frequent and severe incidents. This would impact lives, property, and economic stability.