Accra earth tremor measured 3.8 on Ritcher scale

The Geological Survey Department says Sunday’s earth tremor that hit parts of the capital- Accra measured 3.8 on the Ritcher scale. It is the first such tremor after three occurrences in 1997, hitting Dansoman, Weija, Legon, the Ghana Broadcasting House area at Kanda, East Legon, Madina, Sakumono and other environs of Accra.

Acting Director of the Geological Survey Department Philip Oduro Amoako has called for calm, explaining that the tremor is a normal occurrence. The entire coastal belt of Ghana is said to be an earthquake-prone zone. Sunday’s early morning tremor came in a flash but scared many including a visiting Fulbright Guest lecturer at the University of Ghana, Jonathan Blakley.


Mr. Oduro Amoako told JoyNews that the department has been advising developers to adhere strictly to building regulations to enable them mitigate the impact of an earthquake. According to him, estate developers in the Dunkona, Fetteh, Nyanyano, Weija, McCarthy Hills and Shai Hills, in particular, must be cautious because these are the most prone areas.

The March 6th 1997 earth tremor measured 4.8 on the Ritcher Scale, and came less than a month after an earlier tremor that measured 4.1. The first for that year occurred on January 8th measuring 3.8. The worst experience ever recorded in the country was in 1936 at Axim, which caused lots of damage.