UG Lecturer Blames Accountability Failures for Deadly Accra Newtown Building Collapse
Dr Joshua Jebuntie Zaato Says Tragedy Reflects Deep National Problem of Weak Enforcement and Corruption in Construction Sector
A senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, has attributed Sunday’s tragic collapse of an uncompleted school building at Accra Newtown — which claimed at least three lives — to Ghana’s long-standing failures in accountability and enforcement of building regulations.
Speaking on Good Morning Ghana programme on Monday, Dr Zaato described the incident as a symptom of a deeper national crisis where responsibility is routinely ignored until lives are lost.
“We lack accountability,” he stated bluntly. He pointed to the repeated use of substandard materials by contractors and the failure of oversight officials to enforce safety standards as key contributing factors.
The building, located within the Accra Newtown Experimental School compound, collapsed on the afternoon of March 29, 2026, while being used as a makeshift place of worship. Eyewitnesses reported that the structure had remained in a weak and incomplete state since 2012, raising serious safety concerns long before the disaster. Heavy rains on Sunday are believed to have triggered the collapse.
Dr Zaato criticised what he called weak enforcement of building regulations, corrupt oversight systems, and political interference in public projects.
“This is not an isolated case,” he said. “It is a national scandal that keeps repeating itself across the country.”
He questioned why authorities had failed to conduct mandatory inspections or sanction contractors responsible for unsafe construction over the years.
Call for Urgent Reforms
Dr Zaato called for immediate and comprehensive reforms, including:
- Digital tracking of public projects to enhance transparency
- Stricter accountability measures for engineers, contractors, and officials overseeing construction
- Assignment of personal liability to those responsible for failed or substandard projects
He argued that such measures would serve as a strong deterrent and help prevent future tragedies.
The collapse has once again spotlighted the safety risks posed by unfinished and poorly maintained structures in densely populated urban communities across Ghana, where such buildings are often repurposed for public use without proper assessment.
Rescue operations at the site have concluded, with at least 20 people rescued from the rubble. The death toll currently stands at three, though investigations into the exact cause and possible negligence are ongoing.
Source: Interview with Dr Joshua Jebuntie Zaato on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana
