Adenta Building Collapse: Developers ignored stop-work orders – Report

Preliminary findings by a Joint Technical Investigative Committee have revealed that the developers behind the collapsed building at Adenta in the Greater Accra Region proceeded with construction without the required statutory approvals and ignored stop-work orders issued by regulatory authorities.

The findings were contained in a joint statement issued by members of the committee on Monday, June 8, 2026.

The committee, made up of structural engineering specialists and representatives from the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana (IET-Gh), and the Architecture Registration Council (ARC), said the incident exposes serious breaches of building regulations and weaknesses in enforcement.

The statement follows the collapse of a three-storey building at Adenta New Site on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

Five occupants — three adults and two children — were trapped beneath the rubble when the structure gave way. The victims were identified as Margaret Kpeli, believed to be in her late 30s; Fred Atagba, believed to be in his late 30s; Solomon; Seyeram Dzigda (child); and David Dzigda (child).

Through a coordinated search-and-rescue operation, four occupants — Fred Atagba, Solomon, Seyeram Dzigda, and David Dzigda — were rescued alive with injuries and transported to the 37 Military Hospital for treatment.

According to the committee, “the project was undertaken without the requisite statutory approvals, including approved architectural and structural engineering drawings, building permits, and other mandatory technical documentation.

“The investigation further revealed that official stop-work directives issued by the Municipal Assembly were disregarded, and construction activities continued despite regulatory interventions.”

The committee further disclosed that an additional floor was under construction at the time of the collapse. It described the extension as an unauthorised vertical addition that imposed significant stress on a structure not designed to support the extra load.

Five people were affected by the incident, while authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage and any additional consequences arising from the collapse.

The preliminary report also indicated that portions of the building remained occupied while construction work was ongoing, further increasing safety risks at the site.

Investigators identified several structural deficiencies, including discontinuous load-bearing columns, poor-quality concrete, inadequate support systems, and improperly detailed reinforcement, all of which are believed to have contributed to the failure of the structure.

The committee said the collapse pattern was consistent with a progressive, or “pancake,” failure, in which the collapse of critical structural elements triggers a chain reaction affecting multiple floors.

Samples of concrete and steel reinforcement have been collected for laboratory analysis to determine whether they complied with approved engineering standards.

The committee recommended that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) secure the site and oversee the safe removal of unstable sections of the building to prevent further danger to the public.

It noted that the incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for strict compliance with building regulations, professional supervision, and the rigorous enforcement of approved construction standards.