Nine declared dead in Melcom disaster

Accra, Nov. 9, GNA - Colonel M'Bawine Atintande, Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Armed Forces, has disclosed that 10 people have officially been declared dead after four days of the collapsed Melcome building at Achimota in Accra.   He said 52 people who have suffered scratches, trauma, bruises and wounds have also been treated and discharged at the 37, Achimota, Police and Korle-bu Teaching Hospitals.   “One Millitary officer (name withheld) has also collapsed from exhaustion and has been rushed to the hospital.   Col. Atintande made this known at a press briefing at the scene of the collapsed building at Achimota in Accra on Friday.   He said Melcom, owners of the shop has also reported that nine of its staff were still missing and that they were still searching for them.   Col. Atintande revealed that 400 Police officers were on the ground, 300 officers from the Ghana Armed Forces and 15 Ambulances with 45 staff from the Ghana Ambulance Service were attending to the disaster.   Captain Guvaal Barrack, leader of the Israel rescue team congratulated Ghana’s security service for their commitment and response to the disaster.   He said: “My team have not been able to rescue anybody because we are going through the due process, we may rush into it and even kill people who are alive in there.”   Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Flag bearer of the Opposition New Patriotic Party, who also visited the scene, called for an investigations into the cause of the disaster.   He urged the team on ground to be focusssed and ensure that the last person was rescued.     GNA ... Read Full Story