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An engineer at the National Data Center of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission said that the earthquakes that Ghana continues to experience are caused by a movement along fault lines, called intraplate earthquakes.
Dr. Paulina Amponsah made this statement in her presentation on the history, causes and effects of earthquakes in Ghana and suggested recommendations on how to prevent and reduce the risks badociated with earthquakes in the country.
The program was set up Thursday by the Ghana Institute of Engineering (GhIE) at the Engineering Center in Roman Ridge, Accra, to discuss the recent earthquakes in Accra.
Giving the history of earthquakes in Ghana, Dr. Paulina Amponsah said: "Ghana is far from the main earthquake zones of the world, however, the country is seismically active and is therefore subject to seismic disasters ".
She recounted that the first earthquake recorded in Ghana was in 1615 and that the event was taking place in Elmina, where a fortress was destroyed. In 1636, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake hit the country at Axim, where miners were buried alive.
In 1862, another earthquake hit the country in Accra with a magnitude of 6.5, during which three people were killed and destroyed many structures.
According to Mr Amponsah, a serious earthquake hit the country in 1906, 1939, 1964, 1969, 1997 and 2003.
She added that earthquakes had recently been recorded on March 24, 2018, December 9, 2018, January 2019 and February 2019, the latest one being on March 2, 2019. She stated that all these tremors had magnitude less than 4.
The discussion revealed that the inhabitants of Kasoa, Awutu-Senya, Weija-Gbawe, McCarthy Hills, Adenta and other areas located near the intersection of the two The main fault zones in the country, namely the Akwapim fault zone and the coastal border fault zone, are subject to seismic activity, so earthquakes are very frequent.
She recommended that for our country to be earthquake resistant, we need to be proactive in our planning process at the local and national levels.
Photos (from left to right): Ing. Michael Obeng-Konadu, Ing. Mrs. Carlien Bou-Chedid, Dr. Paulina Amponsah and Ing. Dr. Nii Allotey
Another speaker for the day, Ing. Dr. Nii Allotey also suggested that an important national decision to take during an earthquake is "CHANGE". "Many countries have learned their lessons the hard way. A country is putting earthquake mitigation measures at its own risk, "he added.
Michael Obeng-Konadu, who also spoke about the human elements in earthquakes, also pointed out that human activities that increase the effects of earthquakes include poorly built buildings on steep slopes, sand catchment activities and stone extraction, including the use of explosives at the base of slopes, agriculture activities at the base of slopes, obstruction of natural drainage and lack of slope protection measures well-designed in areas populated by hills.
For his part, the outgoing president of GhIE, the current president-elect of the Federation of African Engineering Organizations (AWEO), Carlien Bou-Chedid suggested that the country proposes a deliberate plan to ensure that all public buildings are redeveloped. withstand earthquake and trembling.
She informed the public that in the event of an earthquake, they should remain calm, lower, take shelter, as soon as the ground stops, leave the buildings and stay outside, and do not return immediately to the buildings as there might be aftershocks.
Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Executive Director of GhIE, called the Municipal and District Assemblies and Building Authorization Departments to ensure that the right professionals are consulted to minimize the risks and damage caused by earthquakes. earth and earthquakes in the country.
GhIE President Alexander Leslie Ayeh, GhIE Board members, former Presidents of GhIE, members of related professional bodies, fire departments, NADMO and the media were also present.
Photo: Cross section of conference participants
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