Roman Ridge Building Collapse: 14 Rescued in Critical Condition After Three-Storey Structure Fails at Construction Site
A three-storey building under construction at the Architectural Engineering Service Limited (AESL) premises in Roman Ridge, Accra, partially collapsed on Tuesday afternoon, trapping 14 construction workers beneath rubble and sending them to hospitals in critical condition.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) confirmed the incident, with rescue operations wrapping up after two hours of intense efforts, but no fatalities have been reported.
The collapse occurred around 12:18 p.m. near the Ghana Institute of Engineers, with the GNFS receiving the distress call and dispatching a team from headquarters led by ADO I Minnoh, arriving by 12:29 p.m.
“We rescued 14 individuals with severe injuries, including fractures and lacerations; they were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital and Ridge Hospital,” stated GNFS PRO ADO I Prince Billy Anaglate in a post on X.
The workers, mostly masons and laborers, were on the first-floor podium slab when temporary formwork supporting freshly poured concrete gave way, spilling 50 square meters of wet material but leaving the permanent structure intact, per developer Devtraco Plus Limited.
Devtraco, through subsidiary Fabrico Builders, clarified in a statement: “This was a localized temporary formwork failure during concrete casting, not a structural collapse… Our foremost priority remains the safety of all personnel.” The company pledged full cooperation with probes and reassured stakeholders of its commitment to high standards.
The Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) echoed calls for an independent technical investigation, expressing “deep concern” and sympathy for the injured while offering expertise.
Ayawaso West MCE Sandra Owusu Ansah visited the site, vowing a thorough inquiry: “We’ll get to the bottom of this—safety first.” The area remains cordoned off, with traffic disruptions on Liberation Road.
This incident highlights persistent construction safety lapses in Ghana, where 2024 saw 45 site accidents killing 23 workers, per Labor Ministry data. The Ministry of Works and Housing has ordered a halt to similar projects pending review
