By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA)has assured that it has placed under constant monitoring certain critical national assets with significant security and eco-tourism importance against unfavourable earth movements such as earthquakes and tremor.
Among such protected facilities are Lake Bosomtwe, a UNESCO-protected biodiversity heritage, the Weija Water Treatment Plant, and the Akosombo Hydro Dams, both of which have major national security status.
The Director General of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority, Isaac Mwinbella, made this known in Kumasi at a media sensitization workshop.
The Director General of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority, Isaac Mwinbella, emphasised that one key mandate of the Authority is to monitor movements within the earth that cause earthquakes and tremors, saying that the whole of Accra is earthquake-prone.
He disclosed that the Authority has placed under constant monitoring certain assets with national security and eco-tourism significance, such as Lake Bosomtwe in Ashanti, the Weija Dam in Greater Accra, and the Akosombo Hydro Dam in the Eastern Region, against earthquakes.
“If the Weija dam fails, Accra will run dry because the Weija dam provides some amount of water to the residents of Accra, so we have a monitoring station there. And you know, Weija is also prone to earthquakes. We have one in Akosombo trying to also see how the dam behaves because if earthquake strikes and the dam begins to leak, what will happen, the dam will run dry, and therefore the electricity supply will be affected. In the same way, you know Lake Bosomtwe here; it has a lot of significance and is something that everyone is trying to protect. So definitely, we also have a monitoring station there,” Mr. Mwinbella explained.
Mr. Mwinbella disclosed that the Ghana Geological Survey Authority is currently in the Northern, Western, and Upper West regions investigating the quantum of the iron ore deposit in those areas to advise the government on what to do.
The Director General disclosed how his outfit is doing in the crusade against illegal mining menace in the country.
The sensitisation forum was held at the instance of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority to educate the participants on the mandate, operations, achievements and challenges of the Authority so far.
The Ghana Geological Survey Authority, established in 1933 as a Department and upgraded to an Authority through an Act of Parliament, Act 928 of 2016, is an agency of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
It was established to become a globally recognised geoscientific centre with mandates including a systematic mapping of the entire land territory of Ghana, developing a disaster risk reduction strategy and programmes through public education, early warning, and evacuation, as well as advising government and institutions on geoscientific matters.
It came to light at the media sensitization forum that, so far, the Authority has been able to map about 60 per cent of Ghana’s entire land space, with the remaining 40 per cent being in progress.
On display for the observation of the participating journalists were various rock types and mineral ores extracted from different geographical areas of the country, while there was a demonstration of early warning signals and safety measures in times of earth movements.
The Head of Seismic Division of the Authority, Nicholas Opoku, used the opportunity to educate Ghanaians on safety steps to take during tremors or earthquakes.