We are sitting on looming danger - GhIG to government

The Ghana Institution of Geoscientists (GhIG) has raised concerns over occurrences on the Ayi-Mensah, Aburi mountain and some other parts of the country.

The GhIG has therefore offered some scientific solutions to the sector ministries for consideration.

According to GhIG, they are concerned about the recent rockfalls, slope failures and landslides some of which may be rainfall induced and its consequential dangers to life and properties.

The Geoscientists in a press release signed by the General Secretary, Crisler Akwei Ankrah on recent slope failures in some mountainous areas of Ghana and its impact on lives and properties said “indeed, we are sitting on a looming danger and the need to address these issues now is important. It is also equally important to educate the public to be good stewards of the environment”.

Similar areas in the country where there is looming danger, they alluded to include the Kasoa Tollbooth, Ablekuma, MacCarty Hill, Gbawe, Kwabenya, Ofankor, Nkawkaw scarp, Voltaian Scarp (Camp), Jamase-Ashanti Mampong, Gambaga-Nakpanduri Road, Larteh Road and their surrounding areas.

“The occurrence of these natural catastrophic events may be accelerated by heavy rains, earth tremors and earthquakes as well as the surge in un-controlled, non-standardized and indiscriminate human activities”.

They say, the recent heavy rains triggering landslides and rock-falls on the Akwapim-Togo Range, with the most recent one that occurred on the Aburi-Ayi Mensah stretch has caused several inconveniences to pedestrians and motorists and near life threatening misses.

The Institute recalled that, “The Aburi-Ayi Mensah dual-carriage road used to be a single lane until it was redesigned into its current state to ease access to and from the Aburi for motorists.

During the construction of the dual-carriage way, the footwall of the hill was cut back without adequate assessment of the geological structures and the general geodynamics of the hill”.

In order to minimise and forestall future occurrences of similar geohazards and other geoengineering activities, the GhIG has recommended that all materials for road construction, buildings and other civil works must be certified by a qualified Geoscientists. “This is to ensure that these materials do not contain any injurious minerals that may not be suitable for the required building or civil works.

The GhIG however, stated that they are ready to partner any governmental agency in the standardization of geomaterials suitable for road, buildings and any construction works so that all stakeholders will have value for money, safety, environmental stewardness that would ultimately lead to sustainable development.

They reminded Ministers responsible for Works and Housing, Roads and Highways and the public of the need to collaborate in the sustainable development of projects in the country in other to forestall or minimize the effects of these disasters in these communities.