The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ayawaso Central, Rudolph Collingwood Williams, says the church that had been operating in the Accra New Town school building, which collapsed on Sunday, was doing so illegally, insisting the Assembly does not issue permits for church services inside classrooms.

Speaking to journalists after the incident, Williams said he only became aware of the church’s activities about two weeks earlier, prompting him to dispatch his security team and aide to ask the group to vacate the premises.

“When I was given the notice about two weeks ago, I had to let my security and my aide come and talk to them to vacate the place,” he said. “They rained insults and curses on them, but that’s human nature.”

The MCE explained that the Assembly’s bylaws allow churches or groups to apply for temporary use of compounds within public schools, but not classrooms or enclosed structures. According to him, the nature of the activity made it difficult to detect because there was no signage indicating that a church service was taking place.

“I didn’t know there was even a church service going on here,” he added. “You don’t have any banner here for you to know. Under the rules of the Assembly, we don’t even give permits for churches to run in classrooms… it is an illegal act.”

Background

The comments come in the wake of the building collapse at Accra New Town, which occurred on Sunday afternoon during a period when many residents say the school block is typically quiet. Emergency teams from the NADMO, Ghana National Fire Service, and the Police are still assessing the structural cause and determining whether any lives were at risk at the time of the collapse.

Municipal authorities say the incident has revived concerns about the safety of public school infrastructure and the widespread but sometimes unregulated use of government facilities by private groups, religious bodies, and community organisations.

Assembly promises further action

The MCE said the Assembly will intensify monitoring of public school facilities and enforce regulations on unauthorised use. He warned that any group operating without permits — whether for religious activity, social gatherings, or commercial purposes — would be sanctioned.

“We allow people to apply for the compound if they want to hold weekly prayers or events,” he said, “but not inside classrooms. Whether the structure is strong or not, operating inside is illegal.”

Investigations into the collapse are ongoing.

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