A senior civil engineering lecturer at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Prof. Ing. Eric Ofosu Antwi, has attributed the growing incidence of building collapses in Ghana to weak regulation, inadequate supervision, and limited capacity within local authorities responsible for enforcing building standards.
Speaking in the wake of recent building collapses in Accra on Bullet Tv’s Morning Target with Nana Kwaku Aduah on Monday June 8, 2026, Prof. Ofosu Antwi questioned whether the incidents should be viewed as isolated engineering failures or symptoms of deeper systemic weaknesses in the country’s construction sector.
“The buildings in Ghana are highly unregulated and that’s concerning,” he stated. “The Building Inspectorate Divisions in the municipal assemblies have very few personnel, making it difficult for them to effectively inspect and supervise construction projects in the field.”
According to him, engineers also have a professional responsibility to ensure that projects are properly supervised after designs have been approved.
“As an engineer, if someone brings you a design to build, you should not simply take the money and sit aloof. If anything goes wrong, your licence can be revoked. It is your duty to supervise whatever goes on at the construction site,” he stressed.
Prof. Ofosu Antwi further called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to strengthen collaboration with professional engineering bodies, arguing that many local authorities lack the technical manpower required to effectively monitor complex construction projects.
“The assemblies should understand that they do not have the capacity or manpower to undertake some of these responsibilities alone. They need to work closely with engineering institutions. We need a professional model to move forward,” he said.
His comments come at a time when Ghana is grappling with severe flooding and a series of building collapses triggered by heavy rains across parts of the Greater Accra Region.
The recent building collapses at Adenta New Site and Avenor in North Kaneshie have heightened concerns over construction safety in Ghana. The Adenta tragedy claimed the life of a pregnant woman after an uncompleted structure gave way during heavy rains, while the Avenor collapse left multiple casualties and triggered a large-scale rescue operation.
The incidents have renewed public debate about the enforcement of building regulations, structural integrity assessments and the impact of flooding on urban infrastructure.
Recent flooding across Accra has also reignited discussions about poor drainage, unplanned development and construction on waterways.
Government officials and experts have repeatedly pointed to human activities, including building in flood-prone areas and poor waste management practices, as major contributors to the recurring floods.
For Prof. Ofosu Antwi, however, the solution extends beyond addressing floods. He believes Ghana must adopt a more professional and coordinated approach to construction oversight, ensuring that engineers, regulators and local authorities work together to prevent avoidable disasters.
As rescue teams continue responding to recent incidents and investigations into the causes of the collapses proceed, his remarks underscore growing concerns that without stronger regulation and supervision, more lives could be placed at risk.
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI
