Preventable tragedy that must never happen again

The tragic collapse of a three-storey block at the Accra Newtown Experimental Basic School, which killed three worshippers and injured nearly 20 others, raises troubling questions about public safety, accountability and the management of public infrastructure. 

Reports that the structure had earlier been declared unsafe make the incident even more difficult to comprehend.

The disaster occurred last Sunday when members of a church were holding a service in the building. 

Out of the 22 people trapped beneath the rubble, three lost their lives, while the injured are receiving treatment at various  hospitals.

Beyond the immediate grief, the incident exposes disturbing gaps in compliance with safety directives and the enforcement of building regulations.

Information available indicates that the structure had earlier been identified as unsafe due to concerns about its structural integrity.

Authorities had reportedly warned people to stay away from the building, and efforts had even been made to move the occupants.

Yet, despite those warnings, the building continued to be used.

That development depicts an unfortunate tendency in our society to treat safety warnings with alarming disregard.

When authorities declare a structure unsafe, such a directive must not be taken lightly. 

However, the responsibility does not rest solely with those who ignore the warnings.

The larger and more pressing questions are the circumstances under which a public school building could reach a stage where its structural integrity is doubtful.

A school building is a public facility intended to serve children and the wider community.

How then does such a facility end up being declared unsafe?

Were approved building standards followed?

Were quality materials used?

Was there adequate supervision by qualified engineers and consultants during construction?

Or were unacceptable shortcuts taken in the execution of the project?

The Institution of Engineering and Technology Ghana has already pointed to possible factors often associated with such structural failures — poor design, weak foundations, the use of inferior materials and substandard construction practices.

These point to systemic weaknesses in the way building projects are executed and supervised.

Equally troubling is the question of enforcement.

If the building had indeed been declared unsafe, why was it allowed to remain standing in that condition?

Why were urgent steps not taken to either rectify the structural defects or demolish the structure?

What clear and visible warning signs were placed around the facility to prevent people from entering it?

Was the site adequately secured to protect the public?

These are questions that demand answers.

As a country, we must recognise how narrowly we may have escaped a far greater disaster.

The collapse occurred on a Sunday when the school was not in session.

Had it happened on a weekday, with pupils and teachers present, the consequences could have been more catastrophic.

It is entirely conceivable that many schoolchildren might have been inside the building at the time.

That sobering reality must compel the nation to treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves.

As has become customary in the aftermath of such disasters, high-ranking government officials have visited the scene, hospitals where the injured are receiving treatment, and the homes of the bereaved to commiserate with them.

These gestures are necessary and appreciated, but they must not mark the end of the national response.

The true test lies in the actions that follow.

This tragedy must trigger a comprehensive review of how public buildings are designed, constructed and monitored.

Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, regulatory agencies and professional bodies must strengthen oversight and enforce building regulations strictly at every stage of construction.

Structures that are declared unsafe must be promptly secured, repaired or demolished without hesitation.

At the same time, the nation must commend the gallant efforts of the various agencies and individuals who worked tirelessly during the rescue mission.

Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service, the military and community volunteers demonstrated courage and dedication in their efforts to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble.

Their commitment exemplifies the spirit of service that holds communities together in times of crisis.

The Daily Graphic argues that ultimately, this incident must not be allowed to fade into the long list of tragedies that provoke temporary outrage but produce little lasting reform.

Those responsible for any negligence must be held accountable.

Only then can the cycle of preventable structural disasters be broken.

To the bereaved families, we extend our deepest condolences.

To those who were injured, we wish them a speedy recovery.

But above all, this painful episode must serve as a turning point.

Ghana must resolve that never again should lives be lost because warnings were ignored and safety measures delayed.

Human life must always come first.