Accra: The family house of Mr. Allotey Jacobs, a former Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has tragically collapsed, resulting in one fatality. The one-story mud house, located in the fishing community of Amisakyir, Cape Coast, crumbled at approximately 02:00 hours on Wednesday while the occupants were asleep, trapping two individuals.
According to Ghana News Agency, this incident marks the second building collapse in the region within a week. The victims were swiftly rescued by a joint team from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Police, and Fire Service personnel and taken to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. Ernestina Nduom, 74, also known as Maame Frema, was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Her 18-year-old grandson, Frederick, remains hospitalized and is currently receiving treatment.
Mr. Justice George Arthur, the Mayor of Cape Coast, visited the victims at the hospital and conveyed the news of Madam Nduom's passing to her family. He shared with Ghana News Agency that he arrived at the disaster scene around 02:00 hours after receiving a call from the area's Assembly member. Upon arrival, he saw two people trapped under the rubble and immediately contacted the security agencies, building inspectorate, and engineers, who promptly responded.
The Mayor has taken responsibility for the victims' hospital bills and welfare. He recounted, "When I got there, the woman was alive and responding to treatment, but after I left, five minutes later, the doctors called me back. They didn't know how to break the news to the family, so they asked me to do that on their behalf, and I did exactly that. It is indeed pathetic."
Following consultations with the occupants of the collapsed and adjoining dilapidated buildings, Mr. Arthur ordered their demolition. "We are embarking on a massive demolition exercise, and so far, buildings that are in highly dilapidated states, I will not waste time in demolishing them with recourse to the families. So far, we have demolished four buildings. In addition to this, we will have about seven buildings to pull down," he stated. He also mentioned that immediate plans are in place to provide relief items and shelter for the victims.
The bereaved family was seen grieving and appealing to authorities for support when the Ghana News Agency visited. Mr. Justice Nana Kwasi Agyemang from the Central Regional NADMO communication team reported that nearby structures are being assessed for demolition. He urged building owners and occupants to maintain their houses regularly and ensure proper sanitation to prevent similar disasters.
Occupants of the affected structures were in the process of salvaging their belongings to facilitate the demolition. They consented to the demolition but appealed to the government and NADMO for assistance. Mr. Samuel Essel, the Regional NADMO PRO, also appealed to the public for support in providing logistics and relief items to aid their response efforts.
Meanwhile, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, the Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional area, visited the disaster scene to express his condolences to the affected families and assess the damage.
