Ghana is unable to track looming tremors and earthquakes because the Geological Service Department owes its satellite signal prompters based in the United States an amount of US$36,000.<\/p>\n
The country has therefore, been cut off any communication if such disasters are imminent.<\/p>\n
This came to light in the wake of Thursday\u2019s earth tremors in some areas in Accra such as Weija and its environs.<\/p>\n
The Director of the Geological Service Department Adjei Duodoo said they were unable to detect it because the station was no longer receiving signals.<\/p>\n
\u201cYesterday we had a tremor but we couldn\u2019t pick it. We have six remote stations but such information is transmitted through a modern satellite provided by the Hunters Communications of USA. Unfortunately, the subscription fee has not been settled up till now so we have been switched off,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is about US$36,000 and it is a bulk fund for three years. We are a government subvented organization which prepares its budgets and must receive our monies from the Ministry of Finance.\u201d<\/p>\n
He outlined that several areas in the country fell on the fault lines where earthquakes could occur.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the coastal bandage fault; we have the Togo \u2013 Akuapim fault, and they are intercepting around Weija and McCarthy Hill and we have been recording many Epic Centers around that place. In actual fact, the center of Accra is part. Ridge Hospital, TUC, former Mobil House, former Ambassador Hotel, the Castle, Osu and Makola are all on the fault areas,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
He added that the \u201cFlagstaff House, the CID Headquarters and the Regional Police Premises are earthquake prone areas. Tema is also part, Akosombo is part, parts of Akuapim Ridge. Ho and Tito all in the Volta Region are all on the fault region.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked whether the country could not be prompted to take any precautions for any imminent tremors or earthquakes coming in, he stated that the nation can only hope to predict right.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can have a tremor of about 3.3 magnitudes. It could increase to 3.5 then to four. Here, we can warn that there could be an imminent one, and we need to get ourselves prepared,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
Mr. Duodoo was also worried the facility needed to be fenced to secure the place from encroachment and unscrupulous elements which could sneak through to temper with their machines and even steal them.<\/p>\n
He emphasized that the installation was a critical one which needs to be isolated from noise and satellite interruptions coming from telecoms and radio frequencies.<\/p>\n
Another challenge facing the Department is their inability to continuously power a 250 KVA generator due to the frequent power fluctuations.<\/p>\n
The deadliest earthquake in Ghana occurred in 1939 specifically In Accra. 17 people died with 133 sustaining injuries. Several buildings were affected with the roofs of the Osu Castle; the then seat of government ripped off.<\/p>\n
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Source: Ultimate Radio<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ghana is unable to track looming tremors and earthquakes because the Geological Service Department owes its satellite signal prompters based in the United States an amount of US$36,000. The country has therefore, been cut off any communication if such disasters are imminent. This came to light in the wake of Thursday\u2019s earth tremors in some […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":34776,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[43,38],"yoast_head":"\n