Muntaka Sets Up 13-member Committee of Inquiry to Probe Deadly Building Collapses

The Minister for Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, has inaugurated a 13-member Committee of Inquiry to unearth the cause of Ghana’s recent spate of deadly building collapses.

This is in a move to address what he called “failures of systems, processes, oversight and accountability.”

“The collapse of a building is not merely a structural failure. It is often a failure of systems, processes, oversight and accountability. We owe it to the victims and future generations to ensure that the lessons from these incidents lead to meaningful reforms,” he stated.

According to the Minister, the probe will examine structural defects, defective construction materials, design deficiencies, construction malpractice, environmental degradation, climate-related factors, human negligence, and institutional failures, among others.

Muntaka stressed the Committee must work with utmost professionalism, objectivity, independence and integrity and produce recommendations that are practical, evidence-based and capable of implementation.

The Minister noted that the Committee’s work must not only identify the causes of these unfortunate incidents but also help chart a new course for safer construction practices, stronger regulatory oversight, improved enforcement mechanisms and enhanced resilience within communities.

He called on all institutions, professional bodies, developers, property owners, communities and stakeholders to cooperate fully, warning that the era of impunity for unsafe buildings is over.

The Chairman of the Committee, Brigadier General B. F. Kusi, thanked the Minister and assured him that they will do good work to serve as a blueprint for the country.

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