The Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly and the Engineering Council have jointly clarified that Tuesday’s incident at a construction site in Roman Ridge was not a collapse of a 10-story building, as widely reported by sections of the media, but rather a failure of a first-floor concrete slab that was being cast.
This was contained in a joint statement issued and signed by Ing. Isaac Bedu, Registrar of the Engineering Council, and a representative of the Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.
The two institutions explained that the incident occurred at approximately 12:15 pm on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, during the casting of a podium slab. “Contrary to initial reports in the media, there was no structural collapse of a 10-story building. The event involved the failure of the first-floor podium concrete slab, which was being cast,” the statement clarified.
According to the release, 14 construction workers sustained injuries in the incident. They were swiftly transported to the 37 Military Hospital and Ridge Hospital for treatment.
The statement further noted that, as of Wednesday morning, twelve of the injured workers had been treated and discharged, while two others remained in stable condition under observation at Ridge Hospital. “We extend our best wishes for their full and swift recovery,” it added.
In response to the incident, the Ayawaso West Municipal Chief Executive convened an emergency stakeholder meeting on Wednesday, October 29, morning, leading to the formation of a seven-member independent investigative committee to probe the matter.
The committee includes technical experts drawn from the Engineering Council, Architects Registration Council, National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Ghana National Fire Service, and the Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly.
The joint statement explained that the committee’s mandate is to “conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to determine the root cause of the failure and propose concrete recommendations to prevent any future occurrences.” It emphasized that all work on the affected site has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
The two bodies assured the public that the committee’s findings will be made public and that the outcome will help enhance regulatory compliance and safety oversight in the construction sector.
“The committee will issue a comprehensive public report upon the conclusion of its work, and its findings will be instrumental in strengthening our enforcement and compliance mechanisms,” the statement read.
The Assembly and the Engineering Council urged the public and media to avoid speculation and rely on official sources for verified information. “We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of safety and accountability in the built environment and in the Ayawaso West Municipality,” they further stated.
Devtraco Clarity
Devtraco Plus Limited, one of Ghana’s leading real estate companies with up to 1,800 properties built for the Ghanaian society, stated that the recent incident at its construction site at Roman Ridge involved only a temporary formwork failure and did not compromise the building’s permanent structural integrity.
In a statement released on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, the company explained that “a localized section of temporary formwork supporting the freshly poured concrete gave way, failing approximately 50 square meters of wet concrete” during the casting of the first-floor podium slab.
The company was quick to assure the public and stakeholders that “there has been no structural failure. The incident was limited to temporary works (formwork props) used to support the slab during casting. The permanent structural integrity of the building remains intact,” Devtraco stated.
Devtraco also confirmed that “all works on this project are being executed strictly in accordance with approved designs prepared and supervised by qualified, certified consultants.”
Following the incident, the project management and safety teams acted immediately, in line with established emergency protocols. Fourteen workers sustained minor to moderate injuries and were promptly transported to the 37 Military Hospital and Ridge Hospital. Twelve of the injured workers have been treated and are expected to be discharged, while two remain under observation and are stable.
The affected area has been cordoned off, and a joint investigation involving project consultants, safety officers, and contractors is ongoing “to determine the cause and ensure that all preventive measures are reinforced before resumption of works,” the statement added.
The company emphasized that its “foremost priority remains the safety and well-being of all personnel on site.” It also reassured that the Company remains fully committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and professional integrity throughout the construction process and delivering a world-class project to its valued clients and stakeholders.
Ghana Fire Service Update
On Tuesday, 28 October 2025, at approximately 12:00 noon, the Ghana National Fire Service’s Public Relations Office (GNFS-PRO) at the National Headquarters provided an update on the incident at Roman Ridge.
The GNFS-PRO at NHQ said a structural collapse occurred at the Roman Ridge Engineering Center, situated between a 10-story high-rise apartment and the Ghana Institute of Engineering at Roman Ridge.
The building was reportedly under construction by Fabrico Builders (A subsidiary of Devtraco Limited) at the time of the incident.
According to the PRO at NHQ, the Ghana National Fire Service received the distress call at 12:18 p.m., and a rescue team from the National Headquarters, led by ADO I Minnoh, was immediately dispatched to the scene, arriving at 12:29 p.m.
Upon arrival, it was established that all 14 affected persons, all males, had already been rescued and conveyed to the 37 Military Hospital and Ridge Hospital.
According to eyewitnesses, the victims sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving medical attention at the respective hospitals.
The GNFS-PRO said no fatalities have been recorded at the time of filing this report. The cause of the incident is yet to be determined, as investigations are underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The update from the GNFS-PRO also advised the site manager to halt construction works pending the outcome of investigations and to take steps to ensure complete safety compliance at the site.
