The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, emphasized the crucial necessity for the Ghana Geological Survey Authority to take an active role in the approval process for building permits. This intervention is particularly aimed at preventing the dangerous and often devastating collapses of structures, while simultaneously ensuring a higher standard of seismic safety across the country.

 This directive comes on the heels of the government's significant investment of GH₵28 million towards upgrading and modernizing Ghana’s earthquake monitoring data centers, an initiative designed to enhance the country’s preparedness for seismic events.

Speaking passionately at the event, Hon Buah highlighted the unfortunate reality that prior to this governmental investment, all of Ghana’s seismic data centers were non-functional and in dire need of modernization. 
He recalled how the Mahama administration recognized the imperative to revitalize this critical infrastructure, which had been neglected, and thus made the necessary financial commitment to bring them back online and ensure their efficacy. “We upgraded them,” he stated firmly, with the conviction that previously, “all of them were not working. All of them needed upgrade one way or the other."

 Hon Buah expressed sincere appreciation for the efforts made under President Mahama's leadership, acknowledging the importance of these upgrades in ensuring the safety and well-being of Ghanaians in the face of natural disasters.

With the substantial financial backing for this initiative, the Minister conveyed encouraging news to the people of Ghana:

 “The last time I checked, the bilateral location for this project is about 28 million, but today the good news is that we are able to tell the people of Ghana that we will provide them with up-to-date data when there is any risk of earthquake, when there is any risk of tremor.” 

This commitment to transparency and timely information is a vital aspect of what Buah referred to as the "reset," a transformative step towards bolstering national safety protocols. 

Additionally, in his address, Buah stressed that the advancements in the seismic network should directly result in stricter regulations within the construction and mining sectors. “Nine to eight,” he noted, referring to the current state of regulatory frameworks, underscoring the pressing need for the Ghana Geological Survey to fulfill its critical role in these industries, particularly in ensuring that new structures are built to withstand potential seismic activities. 

He pointed out that the recent spate of building collapses could have potentially been avoided had the GGSA conducted comprehensive seismic audits prior to construction.

“If the Ghana Geological Survey is able to do this seismic audit,” Buah asserted, “we wouldn't be waking up to see buildings coming down.”

 Therefore, he urged the authority to rise to this challenge, stressing the importance of ensuring that builders obtain the necessary NC permits mandated by law not just from the Ministry of Works and Housing but prominently from the Ghana Geological Survey as well. This regulatory change is crucial to averting future tragedies and ensuring that structures are designed with both safety and durability in mind.

In summary, Buah’s directive signifies a pivotal step forward; builders will now be required to seek approvals from both the Ministry of Works and Housing and the Ghana Geological Survey Authority before they can proceed with obtaining a building permit. This move aims to enhance oversight of critical factors such as foundation design, soil stability, and earthquake resilience, thus reinforcing the integrity of construction practices throughout the nation. 

Furthermore, the government is confident that the upgraded data centers will serve as a backbone for real-time monitoring and provide essential early warning systems regarding tremors and various geological risks across the country, safeguarding the lives and properties of all Ghanaian citizens.

Sompaonline.com/Bismarck Oppong