The death toll in the Avenor building collapse has increased to three, the Accra Mayor has confirmed.
Michael Kpakpo Allotey announced the updated toll after one of the two individuals rescued from the rubble succumbed to injuries. He disclosed that one of the deceased was the owner of a Mothercare shop that operated within the building.
A total of four people were trapped when the structure caved in during the early hours of Sunday, June 7.
The building, believed to have been constructed between 2020 and 2021, served both residential and commercial purposes, including housing the Mothercare outlet.
Investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing. Engineers from the Ghana Institution of Engineering who assessed the site raised serious concerns. Preliminary observations suggest the building may not have had the required permit from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly. They also cited concerns about the apparent use of substandard concrete that may not meet minimum structural strength standards.
Structural engineer Emmanuel Aidoo stressed that a project of that magnitude requires proper engineering supervision.
“These structures must be engineered. You cannot rely on guesswork to put up such buildings. It will eventually have consequences,” he cautioned.
Authorities say formal assessments , including concrete testing and structural modelling are still pending before a definitive cause can be established.
The Avenor tragedy marks the second building collapse in Accra within a week. On June 3, a separate structure collapsed at Adenta New Site, resulting in one death and four injuries.
The recent incidents have heightened public concern and renewed calls for stricter enforcement of building regulations and routine structural inspections across the capital.