Ghana Has No Modern Equipment To Detect Earthquake � GSD

The Deputy Director of the Geological Services Department, Dr. Kwasi Adu, has disclosed that Ghana is not ready to predict an earthquake. Speaking in an interview on PEACE FM�s �Kokrokoo�, he said the country lacked the necessary equipment for monitoring an earthquake. He said the equipment for monitoring and recording an earthquake or tremor had broken down since 2007 and needed replacement. Though he says an exact day and time could not be predicted for a possible earthquake, there was the need to be alert, in case there is a possible earthquake. He added that the monitoring of the Akosombo dam site had also come to a halt due to the lack of equipments. He said there was the need to acquire the correct monitoring equipment to prevent a disaster. He told PEACE FM, that over $3.6million was needed to purchase new equipment. A proposal he said, had been sent to the government for the purchase of new equipment to assist the Geological Survey Department�s work. He was speaking to Tweneboah Kodua (TK), who was sitting in as host for Kwami Sefa-Kayi on PEACE FM�s �Kokrokoo� about �false� news that over- shadowed the nation on Monday morning regarding a possible earthquake. In Ghana, there is the probability of an earth quake rocking the southern parts, especially along the coast. But the capacity of Ghana to contain an earthquake of a lesser magnitude than that which occurred in Haiti, is in doubt. However, he says indications are not strong but his outfit had demarcated certain areas to be prone to the situation. Areas like Nyanyanor, Kasoa, Weija, Mc Carthy Hills and along the Akuapem ridge, he says, are all earthquake prone zones. On the contrary, he said Ghanaians should not panic over such news, since the country was not in an earthquake zone. He emphasized that the possible earthquake rumour that put fear in most Ghanaians was a false situation. Meanwhile, Dr Kwasi Adu says though their equipment have broken down, they did not receive any signal that there was a possible earthquake. Though He says however that no equipment could predict the day and exact time an earthquake could happen, but the Geological Survey Department had a responsibility to monitor and record any impending incident. Dr. Kwasi Adu has therefore pleaded with the government to hasten the assessment of the proposal brought before them. He said, the proposal was for a digital equipment to replace the broken down manual equipment which was not so reliable. With the manual, he said, it was difficult to calculate the range which was full of human errors.