Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Fatalities Rise in Tragic Ghana Building Collapse - Faulty Construction Suspected
By SaharaReporters, New York
A five-story shopping center which crashed down early Wednesday, took 9 lives, according to Ghana's National Disaster Management Organization, with 75 people people removed from the rubble with injuries. The building went up just nine months ago in a bustling suburb of Ghana's capital.
It was part of the Melcom chain owned by Indian immigrant magnate Bhagwan Khubchandani.
The collapse trapped mainly staff of the company, according to Mr Arvinder Singh, Chief Operating Officer, Melcom Group of Companies.
Kate Adobaya, a spokeswoman for Ghana's National Disaster Management Organization, blamed the building collapse on structural weakness.
"The foundation was not good enough," she said, adding that crews worked in shifts through the night to search for other possible victims.
Family members could be seen at the site earlier in the day attempting to call relatives who could be trapped, while scores of rescue workers at the scene sought to clear debris and get oxygen masks to victims.
A man who saw his brother being put in an ambulance on a stretcher yelled out in agony: "He can't move! He can't move!"
The store sells a variety of cheap, imported household goods and appliances that are popular with working-class Ghanaians.
Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, who went to the site on Wednesday, has declared the collapse of the building a national disaster.
An 18-man rescue team from Israel is expected in Accra with special equipment and sniffer dogs, according to a statement from President John Dramani Mahama's office.
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Terrible accident indeed.
Submitted by Ladders (not verified) on April 17, 2013 - 07:25.
Terrible accident indeed. Building constructors need to punish for inappropriate material submission. I mean their irresponsible decision caused such measurable accident and people got injured very seriously. This type of building collapse is completely unacceptable.
Ladders
Not only the contractor should be arrested
Submitted by SACUZ (not verified) on November 19, 2012 - 15:08.
The arrest should be extended to those who are in charge of monitoring the contractors/builders's work. The Govt. should not also let go those that issued the certificate of job completion which led to the contractor's payment.
These group of people if found guilty should be punished apppropriately, so that it will serve as a deterrent to others who may think to do so.
ghana building collapse
Submitted by stephen idada (not verified) on November 9, 2012 - 17:57.
A tragedy, is what this episode is. And, also very sad that Africa seeking FDI and enhanced economic activities does not pay attention to what immigrants do to make the billions they repatriate to their home countries.
Cutting corners is a major weapon these foreign immigrants utilise in driving local competition under.
African govt's must change the colonial mentality mindset they are buried in and pay closer attention to these fraudsters called business men and ensure they operate within the law.Why the rush in putting up such a structure? May the souls of those who died rest in peace. Amen.
No follow Naija oh!
Submitted by 2E (not verified) on November 9, 2012 - 17:38.
Ghana! Make una copy better tin oh! Make una no follow Naija oh!
Thank God For rescue workers
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on November 9, 2012 - 07:57.
I thank God for the rescue workers, else, it could have been worse. I also believe the should re-visit approval of buildings in the area to forestall nasty future occurrences. May God strengthen all bereaved ones, Amen.
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18 MAN TEAM FROM ISRAEL
Submitted by GALAXY DAVID (not verified) on November 9, 2012 - 06:02.
AFRICA IS THESAME STORIES OF FAILURE, CORRUPTION AND DECREPIT INFRASTRUCTURE . GHANA NEED TO FLY IN 18 MAN RESCUE TEAM TO RESCUE VICTIMS OF A COLLAPSED BUILDING FROM ISRAEL . GHANIAN LEADERS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. WHEN SHALL AFRICAN COUNTRIES LEARN TO STAND ON THIER FEET AND STOP RELYING OF OTHER COUNTRIES . THESE COUNTRIES ARE RULED BY HUMAN BEINGS NOT SUPER HUMAN BEINGS.
MY PRAYERS GOES TO THE VICTIMS.
