Former Ayawaso Central MP, Henry Quartey, is calling on investigators to urgently locate the contractor linked to the collapsed structure at Accra Newtown Experimental School, insisting that key questions about access to the building remain unanswered.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the former Greater Accra Regional Minister said the contractor is a crucial figure in the ongoing investigations and must explain whether adequate measures were put in place to prevent entry into the unsafe facility.
Mr. Quartey stressed that warnings had long been issued about the building’s poor structural condition, suggesting that the real issue may lie in how those directives were enforced.
He referenced remarks by the Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, who indicated that the Municipal Chief Executive had cautioned that no one should be allowed near the structure.
“I heard the Interior Minister say the MCE had sent a warning that nobody should go there, so proactive measures were taken,” he noted.
The former MP further revealed that concerns over the building date back to his time in office, when authorities restricted access to the facility, particularly to protect schoolchildren from potential danger.
According to him, attempts to demolish the structure at the time were met with resistance from the contractor, who threatened legal action.
“During my tenure, the MCE also did the same thing, but the contractor said he was going to court when they planned to demolish the building,” he explained.
Despite these earlier interventions, Mr. Quartey questioned how the building was later accessed and reportedly used by a church, describing the situation as a possible failure in enforcement.
“I don’t blame the contractor because he said he gave the order, so I don’t know how the church got to operate there,” he said. “Because there were issues with structural integrity, the schoolchildren were not allowed to go there, so I don’t know how the church got access.”
His comments come as authorities intensify investigations into the incident, which occurred on Sunday and has raised serious concerns about the management of structurally compromised public buildings in Accra.
The Interior Minister has assured the public that a full-scale probe will be conducted to establish the circumstances leading to the collapse and to ensure accountability where lapses are identified.
The incident has reignited debate over enforcement of safety directives, regulatory oversight, and the need for stricter controls to prevent unauthorised use of unsafe structures across the capital.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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