Three people. Two women and a man. Have been confirmed dead after a three-storey building that was being used as a church collapsed on worshippers in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, on Sunday. The structure. Which was part of a school in Accra’s New Town area, had been left unfinished for several years, despite being used for religious activities.

Rescue Efforts and Casualty Update

Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak said 20 others, most of them women and children, had been rescued and were being treated in various hospitals. There was “90-95% certainty that we no longer [have] any persons [trapped],” he added. Emergency teams worked through the night under floodlights searching for victims inside the structure’s remains.

The cause of the collapse, which happened after heavy rain, is unknown, with the interior minister saying investigations are under way — the national fire service has posted images on X of workers at the site as an agitated crowd mill around the scene.

Earlier reports had initially confirmed two deaths and 14 rescued, but the minister said the latest figures of 20 rescued had been cross-checked with various sources, including the ambulance services. He acknowledged that it had been difficult to determine how many people had been in the building at the time of its collapse, and commended emergency responders for their quick response and rescue efforts through the night.

Community Concerns and Structural Weakness

Eyewitnesses reported hearing trapped victims calling for help under the rubble, describing the incomplete building as poorly constructed with no major maintenance since construction started. “Everybody in the community knows the building is very weak, yet they allowed services and activities inside,” an eyewitness said.

The incident has reignited the debate about the structural integrity of some of the buildings in the country — it has also reminded people of the 2012 collapse of a multi-storey shopping centre that was attributed to poor construction. The building in question was part of a school in Accra’s New Town area and had been used as a church despite remaining unfinished for several years, according to locals.

“What we can say is that there was a total of 23 people… It’s a very sad day for all of us,” Mohammed-Mubarak said. Operations to check for any more worshippers are continuing and the debris is being cleared.

The tragedy has sparked renewed calls for stricter building regulations and safety inspections across Ghana — Local authorities are now reviewing the conditions of similar structures nationwide to prevent future incidents. The incident also highlights the risks of using unfinished buildings for public gatherings, particularly in areas where construction is not completed or maintained properly.

What’s Next for Ghana’s Building Standards

Officials have announced that an independent investigation will be launched to determine the exact cause of the collapse. The findings will be shared with the public in the coming weeks — In the meantime, local authorities are conducting emergency inspections on other unfinished or partially completed structures in Accra and other major cities.

“This is a tragic reminder that building safety cannot be ignored, especially in densely populated areas,” said a local city planner. “We need to ensure that all structures meet proper safety standards before they are used for any public activity.”

The incident has also raised concerns among residents about the lack of oversight in construction projects, particularly those that are left incomplete for extended periods — some have called for stricter penalties for developers who fail to complete their projects or maintain them properly.

As the investigation continues, the focus remains on understanding how a building that was clearly unfinished and known to be structurally weak was allowed to be used for a church service. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to building codes and safety regulations, even in the face of economic or logistical challenges.

“The loss of life is heartbreaking,” said Mohammed-Mubarak. “We will do everything possible to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.”