One Dead, Another Hospitalized After Building Collapse in Cape Coast

A building collapse in Cape Coast early Wednesday resulted in one fatality, with another victim hospitalized. The Mayor has announced plans for demolition of unsafe structures, urging building maintenance among residents. Community leaders emphasize the need for support for affected families and response efforts following this and recent collapses.

A tragic incident occurred early Wednesday morning in Cape Coast when a single-story mud house, owned by Allotey Jacobs, a former regional chairman of the National Democratic Congress, collapsed, resulting in one fatality. The building, situated in Amisakyir, a fishing community, collapsed around 2:00 AM while residents were asleep, trapping two individuals underneath the rubble.

This disaster marks the second building collapse in the region within the past week. Rescuers from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the police, and the fire service worked quickly to free the victims. Unfortunately, 74-year-old Ernestina Nduom, affectionately known as Maame Frema, later succumbed to her injuries at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, while her 18-year-old grandson, Frederick, remains hospitalized under care.

Cape Coast Mayor Justice George Arthur visited the hospital where the victims were treated and later delivered the heartbreaking news of Madam Nduom’s death to her family. He described his response to the disaster following a call from a local assembly member, indicating he arrived at the scene to discover two people trapped. “When I got there, the woman was alive and responding to treatment, but afterwards the doctors called me to say she had passed,” he recounted, expressing the gravity of the situation.

In light of these repeated collapses, Mayor Arthur announced plans to demolish other dilapidated buildings in the area. “We are embarking on a massive demolition exercise… I will not waste time in demolishing these buildings with recourse to the families,” he stated, highlighting that four buildings have already been taken down with more to go.

The grieving family is currently seeking support, and Justice Nana Kwasi Agyemang, a member of the Central Regional NADMO communication team, stated that further evaluations of nearby structures are underway to prevent future disasters. He urged homeowners to routinely inspect and maintain their properties, as neglect can lead to dangerous situations.

Meanwhile, individuals affected by the collapse were seen rummaging through their belongings as preparations for demolition began. They expressed gratitude for the demolition plans but also appealed to governmental bodies for assistance during this trying time.

Samuel Essel, the Regional NADMO Public Relations Officer, further called on the community to provide the organization with logistics and supplies to aid in their disaster response efforts. Paramount Chief Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II also visited the site to express condolences to the victims’ families and assess the damage.

The building collapse in Cape Coast has drawn significant concern, highlighting ongoing issues with building safety in the region. As authorities begin demolition, the need for support for affected families becomes urgent. The Mayor’s commitment to remove unsafe structures aims to mitigate future disasters, but public cooperation and regular maintenance remain critical to ensuring community safety.

Original Source: mobile.ghanaweb.com