Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called for stricter compliance with building and safety regulations following the collapse of a building at Avenor in Accra, warning that adherence to existing rules is critical to preventing avoidable disasters.

The Vice President made the remarks on Sunday (7 June) after visiting the scene of the collapse alongside Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak and the Greater Accra Regional Minister, where she received briefings from emergency response teams overseeing rescue efforts.

While expressing sympathy to victims and their families, Opoku-Agyemang said the tragedy underscored the need for greater commitment to enforcing regulations governing construction and land use.

“Rules and regulations exist to protect lives and property, and we must all be willing to comply with them and support their enforcement,” she said.

She noted that although the immediate focus remained on rescuing those trapped and supporting affected families, authorities and stakeholders must also pay closer attention to prevention.

According to the Vice President, proper planning, strict observance of building standards and effective enforcement mechanisms are essential to reducing the risk of structural failures and safeguarding lives.

Her comments come as emergency personnel continue search-and-rescue operations at the site of the collapse, which triggered a large-scale response involving the Ghana National Fire Service, police, ambulance personnel and other agencies.

Building collapses have periodically raised concerns in Ghana about compliance with construction regulations, quality control and oversight within the sector.

Investigations into the cause of the latest incident are expected to begin once rescue efforts have concluded.