Ghana geophysicist warns nation overdue for major earthquake, urges preparedness

Dr. A. Ofori Quaah, a Life Member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (USA), has warned that Ghana is long overdue for a major earthquake and must urgently step up public education and disaster preparedness.

Speaking on the state of seismic risks, Dr. Quaah explained that the Coastal Boundary Fault—identified in his 2000 research—runs about 22 kilometres parallel to Ghana’s coastline from the Ivorian border through Abidjan to Keta, where it splits into several minor faults. Though dormant for decades, he cautioned that its next movement could trigger a tsunami.

“In the 1939 earthquake, fishermen at sea reported experiencing what they termed a ‘minor disturbance of the sea’. Next time, it may not be minor,” he warned.

He noted that Ghana’s last major quake on June 22, 1939, killed 22 people in Accra when the city’s population was just 77,000. “If that figure is extrapolated to today’s population of about two million, the apocalyptic scenarios begin to emerge,” he said, stressing that poorly built structures pose the greatest risk.

Dr. Quaah, a former Chairman of NADMO‘s Geological Disasters Sub-Committee, said historical records show Ghana is about 20 years overdue for another major seismic event. “It is not a matter of if, but when. Last Sunday’s M6.0 earthquake in Afghanistan should be a reminder,” he said.

He pointed out that over the past six centuries, towns such as Axim, Takoradi, Elmina, Accra, and Ho have all suffered damage from major quakes. For geological reasons, tremors in Ghana also travel unusually far, with the 1939 event felt as far as Pretoria, Port Harcourt, and Ouagadougou.

Dr. Quaah expressed concern about Ghana’s readiness, citing past disasters such as the Melcom Supermarket collapse and the June 2015 floods, where emergency efforts were disrupted by crowds. He also highlighted the challenge of aftershocks, recalling that the 1939 quake was followed by 13 months of tremors.

“Should a major earthquake occur in southern Ghana tomorrow, how will companies and institutions in high-rise buildings cope with evacuating three or four times a day due to aftershocks?” he asked, urging institutions to adopt Business Continuity Planning.

While earthquakes cannot be predicted, he recommended that schools and households monitor visible cracks in buildings as possible warning signs. He added that he was willing to collaborate with young scientists on grassroots monitoring projects.

“All the geological processes that led to past events are still ongoing. As surely as night follows day, another will come someday. What will it take to begin to act on our situation?” he said.