Ghana government foots medical bills of church collapse victims

The six-storey church building belonging to the Church of Prosperity collapsed onto about 60 worshippers on October 20, killing at least 22 people and injuring several others.

JOHANNESBURG, October 27 (ANA) – Ghana’s government will settle the medical bills of those injured when a church building collapsed last week, a statement from the Presidency said on Tuesday.

The six-storey church building belonging to the Church of Prosperity collapsed onto about 60 worshippers on October 20, killing at least 22 people and injuring several others.

According to Presidency, vice president Mahamudu Bawumia said the families of the victims would also receive financial assistance.

“The vice president, who handed over an initial Ghs 200,000 (US$34,313) to the families on Sunday … at Akim Batabi, said government stood ready to do more if the need arises,” it said.

Bawumia, who was accompanied by the director general of the National Disaster Management Organisation and other officials, expressed condolences to the bereaved on behalf of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government.

The Presidency said the founder of the Church of Prosperity, Prophet Akoa Isaac, had since been arrested over the building collapse and was assisting police with investigations.

– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa