How negligence caused Weija building collapse - Eyewitness narrates

Heavy rains, Wednesday night, caused a building at Weija in the Ga South District to collapse.

The collapse of the building happened at around 8:30 pm, according to residents.

An eyewitness, Abraham Abban, who described the situation to www.ghanaweb.com blamed the contractors and owner of the building for the collapse.

He insisted that despite several attempts to get them to correct some defects in the building, they refused and continued with the construction.

Mr. Abban explained that he, like other residents, have never felt safe since the commencement of the construction as blocks and other tools used for the construction fall off frequently.

He also expressed worry at the shoddy work and the speed at which the owner was constructing the building.

The eyewitness attributed the building collapse to negligence, indicating that there is the need for authorities to quickly intervene and prevent them from continuing with any work on the site.

"Actually when it was raining, right after the thunder, I heard a rumble and I came to check and I noticed the whole debris had come and a landslide all over the place, the uncompleted construction work, the fence wall had landslide into our place posing a danger to individuals inside the premises. But I have told him several times because I have observed the construction work right from the foundation and they did not put any in-depth like pillars or iron rods to hinge the pillars that they are constructing so this building, in fact, I don't think it is safe for habitation" Abban recounted.

He also accused the owner of destroying the ground of the construction in his attempt to level the land.

Abban found the owner liable for the collapse of the building stating that "these are impending dangers that he is aware of and I have brought to his notice but he just chose to be reckless instead of responsible."

NADMO and representatives from the District Assembly have been to the site to access the situation and residence of the area are calling for urgent action from them to prevent future occurrence.