Nine bodies have reportedly been retrieved by rescuers who stormed the collapsed building of the Prosperity Church at Akyem Batabi on Tuesday.
According to reports, the casualties include a 60-year-old woman, Afia Tameklo who was crushed by a falling pillar.
The six-storey building was said to have remained uncompleted for 28 years before caving in on worshipers on Tuesday, trapping some sixty (60) people.
The congregants are said to have gathered for a fasting and prayer session to intercede for their leader, Prophet Akuwa Isaac, who was ill at home when the building caved in.
A combined team of Police, BNI and Military personnel stormed the place and tried to rescue people trapped under the debris, but as at Wednesday, nine victims were confirmed to have died.
The bodies have been deposited at the Oda Government Hospital mortuary.
Six other victims – Adu Godfred, 21; Erasmus Larnor, 25; Elizabeth Toot, 18; Bridget Binorey, 59; Jonas Larnor, 45, and Charity Addison, 38 – have reportedly been treated and discharged.
Meanwhile, the Akim Oda Police have arrested the owner of the Church of Prosperity after his three-storey church building collapsed on worshipers on Tuesday.
According to reports, Prophet Akua Isaac, was picked up this evening.
Earlier, there had been reports that he was sick. His congregants had met at the Church on Tuesday while fasting, to intercede on his behalf when the church building caved in.
Reportedly the building had remained uncompleted for 28 years. It is not clear if it is insured.