GETFund awaits probe report before action on collapsed Accra New Town school project
The Board Chairman of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, says the Fund will hold off on taking any action over the collapse of a school building at Accra New Town until a full technical investigation is completed.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday at an uncompleted structure within the premises of the Accra New Town Experimental Basic School, claimed three lives and has raised fresh concerns about construction standards and project oversight on publicly funded infrastructure. The site was also reportedly being used by Christian worshippers at the time of the collapse.
Mr Bedzrah said a visit by the Board to the scene was intended to gather first-hand information, but much of the debris had already been cleared, making it difficult to immediately determine the cause of the disaster. He explained that without physical evidence, it remained unclear whether the collapse resulted from structural defects, poor workmanship or other technical failures.
The tragedy has also brought scrutiny to the role of consultants supervising GETFund-financed projects. Mr Bedzrah indicated that questions around possible lapses in supervision would form a key part of deliberations at the Board’s next meeting.
“These are the issues we will be discussing at the Board meeting and we will take it from there,” he said.
He disclosed that independent experts had been engaged to investigate the circumstances leading to the collapse, stressing that the Board would rely on their findings before drawing any conclusions or assigning responsibility. According to him, it would be premature to blame any contractor or consultant until the technical report establishes whether the project was executed according to specification.
Beyond the immediate investigation, the future of the stalled project remains uncertain. Mr Bedzrah said the Board would consult the Regional Coordinating Council, which awarded the contract, as well as the Regional Minister and other stakeholders, before deciding whether to continue or re-award the project.
He emphasised that any reconstruction effort would be guided strictly by safety and structural integrity to avoid a repeat of the incident. Engagements are also ongoing with the Ministry of Education and other authorities to ensure that academic activities in the area are not disrupted.
On the humanitarian front, Mr Bedzrah said the Department of Social Welfare had been tasked to support affected families. He revealed that one of the victims was linked to a school-going child, whose situation would be assessed, with the possibility of scholarship support being considered.
He added that temporary classroom structures, including prefabricated facilities, could be introduced if reconstruction delays persist, although decisions on such interventions would rest with the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, the Regional Coordinating Council and the local assembly.
Meanwhile, the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has confirmed that three people — two women and a man — died in the collapse, as rescue operations continued in the aftermath of the tragedy.
