Rescue efforts are continuing, with officials saying that at least four people died in the Melcom store. 

 

The BBC's Sammy Darko, who has visited the scene, says 42 people have been pulled out alive.

 

Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama said he had suspended his campaign for next month's election. 

 

The government has declared the area in the city's Achimota neighbourhood a disaster zone.

 

 

Vice-President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur went to the site and co-ordinated rescue efforts at the building, which opened earlier this year. 

 

As night fell, hundreds of rescuers continued to dig through the rubble, amid fears that more people were trapped.

 

Mr Amissah-Arthur said the building had collapsed shortly before the Melcom store was due to open for business.

 

Rescue efforts were being hampered³ by the large crowd that had gathered at the site, he added. 

 

"There's so much noise that it's not possible to hear the trapped people asking for help," Mr Amissah-Arthur said. 

 

In a statement on its Facebook page, Melcom said it had rented the building which housed its Achimota branch on a 10-year lease.

 

"This is indeed a very tragic⁴ incident," it said.

 

"We are doing everything possible to see that help reaches those who need it. Our heartfelt condolences（慰问，哀悼） and deepest sympathies goes to the families of those who may have lost their lives."

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