Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) has confirmed what it describes as a “moderate earthquake” in Accra with a 3.9 magnitude on a Richter scale.
The incident happened last Saturday at about 11:22pm and was felt 15km away from GIMPA where the Survey Authority’s equipment is located.
It was felt in the usual suspected places like Weija, Gbawe, McCathy Hill which is within the Ga South Municipality. It was also experienced in other areas such as, Sowutuom, Old Kasoa Barrier, New Bortianor, Awoshie, Abelemkpe, Tabora, Achimota, Ablekuma, Kissiman, Westland, Laterbiokorshie and Legon.
According to a GGSA senior official Nicholas Opoku, the 3.9 magnitude recorded is the highest in 2019.
He said the Survey Authority recorded 2.6 magnitude on the Richter scale in January 13, 2019 and 2.8 in February 25, 2019 with the third pointing to increasing seismic activity within Accra.
“As for bigger earthquakes, ne day it will come”, he said in an interview with Joy News’ Fred Smith. He predicted but “as to when is always a problem that semiologist have not been able to unravel”.
He said within the seismological community increasing magnitude can mean the worst is ahead while others argues, the worst could be behind.
He said the best way to handle an earthquake is to “build resilience” and explained Ghana would have to take a closer look at areas where the risk is very high and consider evacuation.
Research work dating back to 1981 indicates that most of the earthquakes in Ghana occur in the western part of Accra at the junction of the two major fault systems namely, the Coastal boundary fault and Akwapim fault zone.
According to the research, most of the epicenters are located south of Weija suggesting that there is little activity north-eastward along the Akwapim range and westward along the Coastal boundary fault.
The magnitude recorded so far in 2019 is still a distance from 6.5 magnitude, highest ever recorded in 1939 in which 17 were killed in Accra.
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