Inferior materials contributing to building collapses – Ing. Michael Konadu

By Ashiadey Dotse The Chairman of the Civil Division of the Ghana Institution of Engineering, Ing. Micheal Konadu, has attributed the increasing number of building collapses across the country to the use of inferior construction materials, poor supervision, and failure to comply with building regulations. Speaking on GTV’s Current Agenda programme on Saturday, June 13, 2026, following recent flooding incidents in Accra that led to the collapse of a building, Ing. Konadu said preliminary observations by experts indicate that substandard materials continue to play a major role in structural failures.

According to him, although investigations into the latest collapse are still ongoing, there are clear signs that poor-quality construction materials and weak regulatory enforcement are contributing to such incidents. “A team of experts is gathering information, so the final report has not yet been completed. However, what is obvious in all these situations is that there are problems with the way some buildings are constructed,” he said. Ing. Konadu explained that many developers undertake construction projects without going through the required regulatory processes, resulting in buildings being erected without permits or proper supervision.

He noted that inspections of some collapsed structures have revealed poor-quality concrete, undersized reinforcement bars, and improperly tied steel rods, all of which compromise the integrity of buildings. “These buildings may stand for some time, but when they are subjected to stress, such as heavy rains or flooding, they can give way,” he stated. The engineer warned that many similar structures exist across the country and could pose a serious threat to public safety if urgent action is not taken. “We have lots of such buildings in the system. They are just waiting to fail,” he cautioned. Ing.

Konadu also expressed concern about the capacity of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to effectively enforce building regulations. He said many assemblies lack adequate personnel to monitor the growing number of construction projects. Using Ayawaso West as an example, he said a handful of technical officers cannot effectively oversee the large volume of building projects taking place in the area. He further indicated that some officials responsible for enforcing regulations face threats when they attempt to stop unauthorised construction activities, making their work even more difficult.

To address the problem, Ing. Konadu called for a more structured building control system that would ensure only certified professionals are allowed to undertake construction projects. He stressed that builders, artisans, engineers, and architects should be properly registered with local assemblies and subjected to strict supervision. “This is a matter of public safety. You cannot simply allow anybody to create a situation that could cause harm,” he said.

The engineering expert also urged authorities to tap into the pool of qualified engineers available across the country to support assemblies in monitoring construction activities. According to him, most buildings that develop structural defects or collapse were not properly designed, supervised, or approved through the required permitting processes. His comments come amid renewed concerns about building safety following recent floods in parts of Accra, which have exposed weaknesses in some structures and reignited calls for stricter enforcement of construction regulations.