The Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) has called for calm following the occurrence of an earth tremor in some parts of Accra.
According to the Authority, the earth tremor was slightly felt in parts of the capital Accra in the early hours of Friday, March 10, 2023. It revealed that the tremor was a minor incident which is not expected to cause damage.
GGSA stated that residents in High Street, Ridge and other parts of Accra Central experienced the tremor around 9:49am. It explained that the tremor had a magnitude of 2.8 on the Richter scale with an epicenter located 1.5km offshore near James Town.
“The public is urged to remain calm and go about their normal activities.”
Ghana Geological Survey Authority
The Authority in a statement signed by its Acting Director General, Isaac Kuuwan Mwinbelle, noted that the recorded magnitude is indicative of the extent of the tremor. Due to this, GGSA iterated its advice to residents to remain calm and go about their normal duties, assuring that it’s committed to monitoring these events and will inform the public appropriately.
“These are natural occurrences and therefore difficult to predict. The Authority is committed to continuously monitoring these events and informing the public appropriately to ensure public safety and minimize risk. Education and sensitization of the public on awareness and response during earth tremors is important and currently being undertaken by the Authority.”
Ghana Geological Survey Authority
Following the tremor, some persons who experienced the earth tremor took to social media to express concerns.
Taskforce instituted to address earthquake matters
Meanwhile, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has disclosed that a taskforce put together by government has formulated a robust earthquake preparedness strategy for the country. He highlighted that the current strategy has been extensively examined.
Briefing the press, the Lands Minister assured that the government is working around the clock to ensure that the country is able to withstand such natural disasters if they occur.
“Government has put in place a taskforce chaired by the Minister of Interior [Ambrose Dery]. They have done tremendous work, and they have done a whole lot of work on Ghana’s earthquake preparedness strategy. And it’s been to Cabinet several times, it’s been examined and interrogated many times. Indeed, we now have an earthquake preparedness strategy which I believe is fit for a purpose.”
Samuel Abu Jinapor
Mr Jinapor noted that a statement was even made in Parliament to assure Ghanaians of the earthquake preparedness strategy. He explained to that effect, the Ghana Geological Survey Authority has some oversight when it comes to earthquakes, and it’s an agency under the Ministry.
“I myself made a statement in Parliament after we had that minor earth tremor to update the country’s earthquake preparedness. So, I can assure you that government is taking all the steps under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo to ensure that we are prepared, and we have measures in place to protect Ghanaian people and may it never be our portion.”
Samuel Abu Jinapor
Subsequently, he urged Ghanaians to pray to avert any possible earthquakes because when it comes to one of the areas of preparedness, prayer matters because issues of earthquake can be in the “hands of the Lord”. He emphasized that it’s an “act of God” and since Ghana is a “God-fearing country and the good Lord has been so good to us, let’s continue to hope so”.
It will be recalled that parts of the capital Accra in 2022 experienced a number of earth tremors. The last earth tremor experienced in the region was around 7:30 pm on December 17, 2022.
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