The President of the Ghana Institute of Architects, Tony Asare, has called for urgent reforms to improve public safety following the collapse of an uncompleted building at Accra Newtown. Speaking on Monday, he described recurring building failures as evidence of serious gaps in regulation, enforcement, and professional oversight.
Mr Asare questioned whether the issue stems from a lack of expertise or weak enforcement by local authorities, noting that Ghana has competent architects and engineers but continues to experience preventable incidents. He also raised concerns about inadequate supervision, poor-quality materials, and weak quality assurance systems across construction sites.
Highlighting the role of regulators, he criticised limited capacity within agencies such as the Ghana Standards Authority to effectively monitor building materials, particularly reinforcement steel. He warned that substandard materials on the market could pose serious safety risks if not properly tested.
Mr Asare further pointed to a shortage of qualified professionals within local assemblies, revealing that only about 10 architects serve across the country’s 261 assemblies, raising questions about who oversees technical compliance.
The collapse occurred on Sunday at a structure located within the Accra New Town Experimental Basic School premises, a site also used for religious activities. Mr Asare cautioned that such activities, including intense drumming and singing, could worsen structural weaknesses in compromised buildings.
He stressed the need for thorough investigations into the causes of the collapse and renewed commitment from authorities to enforce building standards and safeguard lives.