The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly, Dr. Michael Mensah, has assured the public that the structural integrity of a new Villaggio apartment building under construction in Accra’s Airport Residential Area remains intact following the collapse of parts of the structure.

The incident occurred around midday yesterday amid strong winds that preceded rainfall in the capital, causing sections of the building and construction materials to fall from the upper floors and sparking panic among passers-by and residents in the area.

Speaking after an assessment of the incident, Dr. Mensah said the affected section of the construction site had been restricted, preventing members of the public from entering the danger zone.

He explained that the building was still under construction and that the incident did not necessarily indicate a problem with the structural integrity of the entire building.

“There is nothing wrong with the building. The building is always going to come down, and there was hoarding around it. The area where the blocks landed was restricted, so there was nobody there to be affected,” he said.

He consequently urged the public to remain calm and continue their normal activities, assuring them that measures were being taken to prevent a recurrence.

Dr. Mensah, however, acknowledged the need for additional safety measures at the construction site, particularly the installation of safety nets to prevent falling construction materials from damaging nearby properties or endangering people.

He said recommendations had been made for the blockwork to be constructed in stages, allowing the concrete to cure properly before work continued.

According to him, safety nets should also be installed around the building, especially on the affected side, to contain any blocks or other materials that might fall during construction.

The MCE explained that the absence of safety nets was attributed to the presence of a hoist and supporting structures at the site.

He stressed, however, that the installation of the nets remained an important safety recommendation.

“It is important to provide safety nets around that space so that they would prevent the blocks from damaging any property around if that should happen again,” he stated.

On concerns about the height of the building and the potential risks associated with high-rise developments in the municipality, Dr. Mensah said the project had undergone the required permitting processes and noted that high-rise buildings are acceptable when developers follow the appropriate regulatory procedures and ensure that their structures are capable of supporting the intended height.