The National Congress of Ghanaian Unions (NCGU), the umbrella body representing Ghanaian unions across the United Kingdom and Ireland, has called for stricter enforcement of building regulations and improved flood and disaster management systems in Ghana, following the deadly building collapse at Accra New Town on March 29, 2026.
The tragedy struck when an uncompleted four-storey structure within the premises of the Accra New Town Experimental Basic School gave way at around 5:01 p.m. on Sunday, while a congregation of Christian worshippers held a service inside the makeshift church. Of the 23 people trapped, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), working alongside the Ghana Police Service and Ghana Ambulance Service, rescued 20 and transported them to various health facilities for treatment. Three people, one male and two females, were confirmed dead.
In a statement signed by NCGU President Manye Naa Tsotsoo Soyoo I, the organisation extended condolences to bereaved families while pressing for systemic change. “We call for more stringent and regular building safety checks as well as the enforcement of building regulations in Ghana,” the statement read, adding a separate demand for more effective drainage and flood disaster management infrastructure across the country, particularly in Accra.
The NCGU’s statement adds a diaspora voice to a chorus of concern that has grown since the collapse. Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang visited survivors at the 37 Military Hospital, the University of Ghana Medical Centre and the Police Hospital, and publicly raised questions about whether the building had received proper construction approvals. Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak personally visited all hospitals to cross-verify the casualty figures before releasing his confirmed toll.
The cause of the collapse has not been officially established and an investigation is ongoing.
