A Ghana Immigration Service officer, identified as only Richard, who was captured in a viral video wailing loudly over his dead daughter, has recounted the harrowing moments he rushed to the scene of the tragic collapse at the Accra Newtown Experimental School.

According to him, he arrived at the scene only to discover that nearly his entire family had been trapped underneath the rubble.

See the state of the Accra New Town building before the collapse

Narrating the emotional incident, which claimed the life of his 14-year-old daughter, Richard, in an interview with Channel 247, explained that he was driving through the area when he received alarming news from a worker about the collapse.

“I was driving through Accra, New Town, and then a worker of mine, called Adams, came and told me that there's a church at the experimental school that has broken down. Then I just realised that my mom also attends church there,” he recounted.

He further described how he immediately rushed to the scene while trying to confirm his fears.

“So, quickly, I dashed there with Adams, and then I called my kid sister, who was at home, and then she said that my mom is at church,” he said.

Richard further recounted the chilling moment he made contact with someone trapped under the debris.

He said one of the trapped victims beneath the rubble called out to him for help, informing him that his mother was also trapped beside her.

“... I overheard a woman inside a pit where the whole structure had collapsed… I overheard a woman shouting, saying, ‘Kwabena, your mother is here’,” he stated.

Describing the confusion and urgency of the moment, he said he quickly coordinated with people at the scene to begin rescue efforts.

“So, quickly, I gave her a listening ear… I managed, and I spoke to the people around, that they should hit on this hole. So, the woman came out first, and then my mother also came out.

“In fact, I saw my mother there, and then she told me emphatically that I should make sure my firstborn comes out, and I was shocked,” he added.

He went on to describe how more of his family members were pulled out of the rubble one after the other.

“So, quickly, the people around started bringing the people out, and I realized that my second-born came out with a huge sore on the left hand, and then one of our house helps also came out… they brought up everybody… and it was left with my child, that's the firstborn.

“And then one of the security men asked me to buy him water to drink… once I turned, they brought my firstborn… it was in a way for me not to see that my firstborn had been covered… my mom, her sister, my two girls, my brother's child, our two house helps, and my auntie as well [were all trapped],” he detailed.

The building collapse reportedly claimed 3 lives and left several others injured.

Accra New Town Collapse: The church pastor was once arrested - Accra Mayor details

The incident occurred on Sunday, March 29, 2026, after heavy rainfall caused the structure to cave in while some church members were worshipping in it.

Some residents who recounted the history behind the collapse of the school building blamed it on weak enforcement of building regulations and argued that the tragedy could have been avoided if authorities had acted earlier.

The Ghana Immigration officer who lost his fourteen-year-old daughter in the tragic Accra Newtown Experimental School collapse, Mr. Richard, has recounted the moment he rushed to the scene, only to discover that nearly his entire family was trapped beneath the rubble.

Narrating… pic.twitter.com/0bGjNzzFlf

— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) April 1, 2026