SUSPECTED EARTH TREMOR AT TWIFO-MAMPONG

The attention of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) has been drawn to a suspected earth tremor event at Twifo-Mampong in the Central Region of Ghana on 30th June 2023. The event was reported by various media outlets across the country.

The Authority wishes to state that, monitoring records from our network of seismic stations located across the country did not record any major earth tremor event from the stations on the said date. However, minor earth disturbances recorded during the period did not have the potential to cause the impact that was recorded.

An investigation by a Team of Seismologists and Geoscientists from the GGSA, together with the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Hon. Robert Agyemang Nyantakyi, Assembly Members and Officials from NADMO on Tuesday 11th July 2023 revealed that the event was a landslide which occurred after a heavy downpour the previous day, 29th June 2023. Residents in the area confirmed that no ground shaking was felt by anyone in the town. The landslide event took place on a steep hill within farmlands which are primarily used for cocoa plantations. As a result, several cocoa trees were destroyed.

The geological materials observed at the site were highly weathered metasediments, which were saturated from the heavy downpour, resulting in the movement of materials in multiple locations along the slopes of the hill.
The area where the landslide occurred was far away from settlements and thus, did not affect lives and property. However, the event serves as a caution for potential development along the slopes of the hill to be avoided and the need for proper enforcement of land-use planning.

The public is therefore advised to stop development along slopes of hills, as such areas may not be stable for infrastructural development.
In addition, Metropolitan and Municipal District Assemblies (MMDAs) should enforce effective land-use planning to ensure public safety.

Farmers in the affected areas can go about their farming activities. However, they should stay away from such areas when there are signs of rainfall events.

By uniquenewsgh.com