The Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, says rescue teams have recovered all individuals who were trapped when a building collapsed near the Newtown Experimental D/A School in Accra.

The structure caved in on Sunday, March 29, at a time when worshippers were present on the premises.

Three people lost their lives in the incident, while about 20 others sustained injuries, renewing attention on structural safety concerns in parts of the city.

Dr Kuyon indicated that the search and rescue phase has now been brought to a close, with confirmation that no one remains beneath the rubble. He noted that operations have shifted to clearing the debris to secure the area and restore normal activity.

He cautioned against interference during this phase, stressing the need to maintain safety as work continues at the site.

“We have moved from emergency response aimed at saving lives and property to the next phase, which involves clearing the site to allow community activities to resume. This is a critical stage, and we must ensure that no one interferes with the process in a way that could endanger others,” he stated.

According to him, sniffer dogs were deployed as part of the process to verify that no victims were left trapped.

He also acknowledged the efforts of the various emergency responders who took part in the operation.

Authorities are expected to initiate investigations to determine what led to the collapse.