Isaac K. Mwinbelle, GGSA Director General
The Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) has sensitized traditional rulers, indigenes and the people of Adukrom in the Eastern Region on Earthquake Guard (EQG – II), a device used in mitigating earthquake associated risks in the country.
Speaking during the sensitization programme at Adukrom palace yesterday, the Director General of GGSA, Isaac K. Mwinbelle, told the gathering that the device was donated by the Challenge Company of Japan to National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the GGSA to detect signals of earthquakes and tremors.
Mr Mwinbelle explained that when an earthquake occurs, the device detects the seismic wave and issues an alarm to enable evacuation.
He added that at the same time, a control signal is sent to the elevator and equipment to enable an emergency stop.
“The device has specialized software to distinguish between earthquake and living noise generated close to this device, which prevents it from issuing erroneous alarms.
“This device can display the seismic intensity of each observation point on the map in real time. Control signals of this device can be issued to shut down chemical plants and nuclear facilities beforehand. This device can save people’s lives and infrastructure,” he noted.
Sensitization
According to him, the sensitization exercise has become necessary to educate residents on early warning systems and good risk reduction practices to save lives in an unlikely event of an earthquake.
Although Mr. Mwinbelle was not categorical on the possibility of an earthquake, he did not rule it out given the fact that Ghana is an earthquake-prone zone.
He said the awareness creation formed part of Ghana’s preparedness towards earthquake disaster risk reduction.
Mr. Mwinbelle stressed that the decision to sensitize residents in the area has become even more relevant following the recent earthquake outbreak in Turkey and Syria that killed thousands, including Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu.
He said the earthquake in Turkey should serve as a timely caution for Ghana as the two countries have a history that dated back to 1930 when an earthquake in Turkey was followed by another one in Ghana, claiming hundreds of lives and destroying several properties.
Installation
For his part, Head of Earthquake Monitoring Division at GGSA, Nicholas Opoku, said the device had been installed at earthquake-prone zones like Weija in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality in the Greater Accra Region.
For effective management, he noted that it had also been installed at the offices of NADMO, GGSA, Parliament, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Jubilee House, and University of Ghana, among other areas.
He stressed the need to understand the existence of all natural disasters which are bound to happen, because of human behaviours.
He said creating awareness about disasters, through the earthquake guard, will go a long way to help reduce the impact of such occurrences on the citizenry and the country at large.
The Chief of Adukrom, Osudomgya Otutu Ababio V, commended the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) for creating the necessary awareness of earthquake in the community, so far as earthquake guard and other safety precautions, are concerned.
The Adukromhene the awareness creation formed part of the town’s preparedness towards earthquake disaster risk reduction.
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