A long-time resident of Accra New Town says the collapse of a three-storey building that has killed two people did not come as a surprise.

He described it as a tragedy that many in the community feared.

“I have been living in here for over 20 years now, and this building we are seeing very, very weak. Everybody in the community knows that this building is very, very weak, and then they’ll be allowing services and activities inside there, which is very bad,” the resident said.

Two people have been confirmed dead after the structure caved in on Sunday, with rescue teams working late into the night to reach others believed to be trapped under the rubble.

The Accra Mayor, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, confirmed the fatalities, while 14 people have so far been pulled out alive.

The building, an uncompleted three-storey structure located within the premises of the Accra New Town Experimental Basic School, was reportedly being used by Christian worshippers at the time of the incident.

For residents, the warning signs had long been visible.

“They should have known that the building had collapsed. Very, very sad,” the resident lamented.

Emergency responders, including the Ghana Police Service, National Disaster Management Organisation, and the Ghana National Fire Service, have deployed to the scene, using floodlights and heavy equipment to continue rescue operations after dark.

Authorities say several people may still be trapped beneath the debris, with reports that some victims can be heard calling for help.

“A lot of people are trapped there. They are all hoping that the rescue team can do their best on the same day,” the resident added.

The cause of the collapse remains unclear, but the incident has already raised fresh concerns about safety standards and enforcement in the area.