…Bureau for Public Safety tells government.
The Bureau of Public Safety has asked the Department of Factories Inspectorate of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to quickly investigate the accident at the Accra Mall on October 11 which left three persons injured and property destroyed.
Nana Yaw Akwada, the Executive Director of the Bureau of Public Safety said the incident squarely falls under the jurisdiction of the inspectorate as per Act 328, which is the Factories Offices and Shops Act of 1978.
Speaking to the Goldstreet Business in Accra on Friday, he said the cost of business interruption that arises as a result of such unpleasant incidents cannot be underestimated.
The need for urgent investigations
He also called on state institutions entrusted with powers to immediately act in the interest and safety of all persons patronizing public places that may be targets of terror attacks or mishaps.
Mr. Akwada said it was necessary that the Accra Mall incident be duly investigated for the report to be fully published in due time.
“We have a strong conviction that if Government had published the investigation report of the Melcom incident it could have gone a long way to serve as a learning document for all owners, managers and persons operating in similar facilities,” he said.
Structural Damage at the Accra Mall
The Accra Mall, on Thursday suffered a major structural damage, resulting in injuries to three persons, halting commercial activities at a section of the shopping centre.
The incident occurred when portions of the concrete ceiling in the walkway caved in.
The President Nana Akufo-Addo on his twitter handle said he was disturbed to hear of the incident at the Accra Mall and urged all Ghanaians to work together to improve the maintenance culture.
The management of the Accra Mall is hopeful the entire shopping centre will be opened for full operations by Saturday, October 13 following the collapse of a ceiling which injured three patrons Thursday.
By Linda Naa Deide Aryeetey