Interior Minister personally visits hospitals to verify casualty figures before releasing update
The death toll from Sunday’s building collapse at Accra New Town has risen to three, Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak confirmed on Monday, as rescue teams completed their overnight operations at the scene.
The incident occurred on Sunday, March 29, 2026, while a group of worshippers had gathered inside the structure, which had been converted into a makeshift church. The collapse triggered panic in the area and prompted a swift emergency response. NewsGhana reported two fatalities on Sunday evening based on earlier official figures from Accra Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey. The Interior Minister’s update revises that toll upward.
In total, 23 individuals comprising 15 females and 8 males, including three minors, were caught in the collapse. Through the coordinated efforts of Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) personnel, other emergency agencies, and local residents, 20 victims were successfully rescued and transported to various health facilities for treatment. The three fatalities are one male and two females, the Minister said.
The injured have been taken to the 37 Military Hospital, Mamobi Polyclinic, the Police Hospital, and a private facility in the area.
At the scene, Minister Muntaka stressed that authorities had taken extra steps to verify the casualty figures before releasing them publicly, noting that officials had visited all the hospitals to ensure the numbers being shared were accurate.
The structure is located within the premises of the Accra New Town Experimental Basic School and was still under construction at the time of the collapse. Emergency responders including personnel from the Ghana Police Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and the Ghana National Fire Service deployed floodlights and specialised equipment to sustain the rescue mission through the night.
According to the GNFS, the incident was reported at 5:01 p.m. on Sunday, with the first and second rescue teams from the National Headquarters arriving at 5:17 p.m. and 5:19 p.m. respectively. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu also visited the scene on Sunday to monitor operations.
The cause of the collapse has not been officially determined. Authorities say an investigation will follow.
