The Ghana Education Service (GES) has directed students of the Accra Newtown Experimental D/A School to remain home after a neighboring building collapsed, resulting in three deaths and 20 injuries.
The Director-General of the GES, Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis, announced the suspension following a security briefing at the site. He stated that an emergency meeting would be conducted to decide on the subsequent actions and stressed that students would only return once the safety of all school buildings is confirmed.
“We are going to work with the regional and national teams, including the estate department, to ensure that the remaining structures are safe for use. If they are not, we will advise students to avoid those areas,” Prof. Davis told Citi FM.
The tragedy occurred on Sunday, March 29, 2026, when an unfinished four-story structure located near the school, which was being used as a temporary church, collapsed during a service.
According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the emergency was reported at 5:01 p.m., prompting immediate search and recovery efforts. Rescuers found 23 people, including three minors, trapped in the rubble. While 20 individuals were rescued and hospitalized, three victims—two females and one male—were confirmed dead and their bodies handed over to the police.
The incident has sparked significant concerns regarding the integrity of local infrastructure, leading to urgent safety assessments to prevent similar occurrences.