At least 17 people are now confirmed dead following the collapse of the Church of Prosperity building at Akyem Batabi in the Eastern Region.
It is not yet clear what led to the collapse of the building on Tuesday afternoon.
Unconfirmed reports say a joint rescue team has managed to retrieve the remains of 22 people so far.
The team is made up of officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Police Service and National Ambulance Service.
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The deputy national security minister, Henry Quartey, who was on the scene to gain first-hand information about the incident, told journalists that the government has intensified its effort to ensure the rescue team retrieves all of the bodies buried in the rubble.
‘‘It is too early for us to talk about the way forward, when we have not been able to do a proper assessment, a thorough investigation. And out of that a report is generated before we can come out with recommendations,’’ Quartey said.
‘‘But I think that what we should be looking at now is to complete the rescue work. When that is done, we will be in a better position, having been informed by experts in disaster management, to inform the public.’’
The deputy minister gave his assurance that the government will come out with full details of the incident after the rescue team has finished investigating the cause of the collapse.
Retrieve all remains
The deputy security minister also told reporters that the identity of the dead will be communicated to relatives after the rescue operation.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfour, who also visited the scene of the disaster, said the government is mobilising all the resources at its disposal to ensure that everyone trapped in the rubble is brought out.
The five-storey Church of Prosperity, owned by Prophet Akuwa Isaac, had been under construction for 28 years.
It is not the first time that a structure of this size has collapsed in Ghana, trapping dozens of people.
In November 2012 nine people died after the collapse of a Melcom department store in Achimota, a suburb of Accra. Nearly 70 people were rescued from the ruins of the leased building.
Listen to the Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Darfour, speaking at the scene of the disaster.
Fred Dzakpata
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UPDATE: This report was updated on 22 October at 8pm to reflect the rising number of casualties.
