Rescue delays at Avenor building collapse scene could cost lives — Assemblyman
Rescue operations following the collapse of a three-storey building at Avenor in North Kaneshie, in the Greater Accra Region, have drawn criticism from local authorities, who say the emergency response was slow and poorly coordinated.
The building collapsed on Sunday, June 7, opposite the Ashfoam showroom and close to Melcom Plus, claiming one life while several others are still believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
Emergency personnel, including officers from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), remain at the scene alongside other security agencies as heavy machinery is used to clear rubble and search for possible survivors.
Despite ongoing efforts, the Assembly Member for the Avenor Electoral Area, Alfred Asiedu Adjei, has criticised what he described as delays and poor coordination in the rescue operation.
Speaking to Jude Duncan of Citi News at the scene, he said the incident had exposed serious shortcomings in the country’s emergency response system.
“One thing I have to dwell on is our response to things. Actually we’ve been here for the past three hours. The first excavator came, and it was not working. I am not shifting blame to anybody, but at the end of the day, two people are trapped in the rubble,” he stated.
He stressed that the delays may have reduced the victims’ chances of survival, noting that emergency interventions should be swift when lives are at stake.
“So assuming they have even one hour lifespan for them to live or be rescued; three to four hours we’ve been here, everybody was confused. So our response to issues in Ghana is nothing to write home about,” he added.
The Assembly Member further questioned why operational equipment arrived late at the scene, arguing that authorities should have acted more quickly.
“So factually there was a delay; if this thing happened around 5 o’clock and the machine for the operation just came, you can ask the question: what is happening? Our response to issues is not the best at all,” he said.
Authorities say rescue operations are still ongoing, with emergency personnel working continuously to locate and rescue any remaining victims trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
The cause of the collapse has not yet been determined, and investigations are expected to begin once rescue efforts are completed.
Source: Citi News
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