All Victims Recovered from Newtown Building Collapse – NADMO Declares End of Search and Rescue Operations

The Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Major (Rtd) Dr Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, has confirmed that all individuals trapped under the collapsed building near the Newtown Experimental D/A School have been successfully recovered.

The structure caved in on Sunday, March 29, 2026, while worshippers were gathered inside for a church service. The tragedy resulted in three deaths and left approximately 20 others injured.

Dr Kuyon announced that search and rescue operations at the site have now been officially completed. He explained that authorities have moved from emergency response to the next phase: the controlled clearing of debris to allow community activities to resume safely.

“We have entered something different from emergency response to save lives and property. The next phase is just clearing the place to make way for the community activities to resume. This is a critical phase, to ensure that in the process of clearing the debris we don’t allow people to meddle in this activity which may pose danger to any other citizen,” he said.

He added that sniffer dogs were deployed during the operation to confirm that no victims remained trapped beneath the rubble.

Dr Kuyon commended the swift and coordinated response by the Ghana National Fire Service, Police, and other emergency teams involved in the rescue effort.

Authorities are expected to launch a full investigation into the cause of the collapse, including whether the building met required safety standards and why it had been repurposed for public use despite its incomplete and reportedly weakened state.

The incident has once again highlighted concerns about structural safety and unregulated use of old or unfinished buildings in densely populated areas of Accra.

Source: Statement by NADMO Director-General Dr Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon (March 30, 2026)