The Ghana National Fire Service has initiated an inquiry into the collapse of a two-story dormitory building at Richmere Vocational Institute (RVI) near Kasoa in the Central Region.
Assistant Divisional Officer 1 Alex King Nartey reported that the incident resulted in the deaths of three individuals: two females, aged 16 and 18, and a carpenter.
In a statement to JoyNews on August 26, he noted that although 17 people were present in the Richmere Vocational Institute at the time of the collapse, only these three individuals were fatalities.
“Unfortunately, three individuals—two females aged 18 and 16 and a carpenter—died at the hospital. The collapsed building was a dormitory under construction and was not yet inhabited.
Residents reported that the incident happened while workers were pouring concrete for the first floor of a multi-story building.
However, the Assistant Divisional Officer stated that this information has yet to be confirmed. He assured that the service is working diligently to determine the exact cause of the collapse.
“Our investigation will ensure that all proper procedures were followed, including securing necessary permits and fire certificates. This incident underscores the need for strict adherence to building regulations, particularly for commercial properties.”
Mr. Nartey also emphasized that, out of the 12 individuals affected, Fire Service personnel managed to rescue and assist several through their dedicated efforts.
On August 25, it was reported that three construction workers died when the building they were working on collapsed.
A survivor at the scene stated that a carpenter and two other workers were trapped beneath the rubble from the collapse.