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Collapsed Melcom Building is disaster zone

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Members of the public have been warned against any further visits to the collapsed Melcom building. Officials have described the area as a disaster zone, insisting people who visit the site, do so at their own risk. Fourteen people have been confirmed dead with over 70 others sustaining varying degree of injuries when the Melcom shopping mall, a five-storey building collapsed, last Wednesday. Military and NADMO officials leading the rescue efforts are rounding up their search for more bodies. Joy News’ Elton John Brobbey reported the place has been cordoned-off with excavators used to peel off the rubble still parked. Some volunteers are threatening to take away iron rods removed from the debris but are being prevented by the security. Brigadier General Daniel Mishio, Operations director of the Ghana Armed Forces told Brobbey the place will be secluded for investigations to proceed. “The president instituted an investigation into this matter so certainly that place will be secluded until the investigation is concluded. “We would want to appeal to the public not to see it as a tourist place and continue to do things that will at the end of the day prevent the investigations from being concluded,” he said. Meanwhile the Melcom group of companies is expected to address a news conference to respond to all outstanding issues and queries that came up in the wake of the disaster and rescue operations. Chairman and owner of Melcom, Bhagwan Khubchandani has already announced his decision to ensure all buildings housing its stores undergo structural examination to determine their suitability for human habitation. Mr. Khubchandani said civil engineers have already been contracted for this project and work is expected to start today. Meanwhile Bureau of National Investigations, BNI is set to make more arrests in connection with the Melcom shop collapse which claimed 14 lives. The owner of the five-storey building, Nana Boadu Ayeboafo and the Ga West Municipal Director of Works Carl Henry Clerk were interrogated and detained by the BNI over the weekend. However, Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told Joy News some more individuals including the architect on the collapsed building will be needed for questioning.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.