SEISMIC HISTORY AND SOCIAL

CONCERNS IN THE SELECTION OF

SITE FOR A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
FOR GHANA
 INTRODUCTION

• Ghana has made a decision to add nuclear

energy to her energy mix.
• For this reason there is the need to develop
the necessary infrastructure.
• Some baseline data exist which will help in the
site selection.
 OBJECTIVES OF THIS PRESENTATION

• To review the seismic history of Ghana and to

evaluate how this will affect the selection of a
site.
• To take into consideration the public reaction
to environmental issues.
 Committee on Grid Infrastructure and
siting has been set up.
• Ghana Geological Survey Department
• Ghana Meteorological Services
• Hydrological Services Department
• Ministry of Land and Mineral Resources
• Ghana Atomic Energy Commission
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
• National Disaster Management Organization
• Volta River Authority
• Ghana Grid Company
• University of Ghana
• Ministry of Energy- The Energy Commission
 THE STUDY AREA

• The study will cover the whole of Ghana. Ghana

is in West Africa and lies between latitudes 5°N
and 11°N of the equator and longitudes 3°W and
1°E of the Greenwich meridian. The country is
bordered on the south by the Gulf of Guinea, on
the west by the republic of Cote D’Ivoire, on the
east by the republic of Togo and on the north by
the republic of Burkina Fasso. It covers an area of
about 240,000 km².
 GEOLOGY OF GHANA
• Ghana can be divided into four distinct major lithostratigraphic/lithotectonic
complexes:
• Paleoproterozoic supracrustal and intrusive rocks ( Birimian Supergroup,
Tarkwaian Group, ‘Tamnean’ Plutonic suite, Ebumean Plutonic suite) which
formed between 2195 Ma and 2072 Ma.
• Neoproterozoic to early Cambrian, lithologically diverse platform sediments
(Voltaian Supergroup), consisting of the 1000 to 950 Ma old Kwahu-‘Morago’
(Bombouaka) Group at the base, followed- after a hiatus of 300 Ma by the Oti-
Pendjari Group, which was deposited after 630 Ma, and the late Neoproterozoic
to Early Cambrian Obusum Group at the top.
• Rocks of the Panafrican Dahomeyide orogenic belt, which include – listed
according to increasing degree of deformation and metamorphism – the Buem
structural Unit, the Togo Structural Unit, as well as a variety of gneisses of the
Dahomeyan Supergroup ( peak metamorphism at c. 600 Ma) and some
interleaved Ebumean protoliths.
• Isolated and spatially restricted coastal sedimentary basins of Ordovician to
Cretaceous age, mostly related to the opening of the Atlantic or proto-Atlantic
Ocean ( Sekondian Group, Accraian Group, Amisian Group, Apollonian Group).
 SEISMIC HISTORY OF GHANA
• Ghana on the whole is a relatively stable region and earthquakes are rare.
However, the coastal region has experienced recorded earthquakes since 1615.
(Table I). (P. Amposah, personal communication, 2010)
•
• YEAR
• MAGNITUDE
• REMARKS
• 1615
• -
• Felt at Elmina
• 1636
• 5.6
• Buildings and Underground workings of a Portuguese mines collapse
• 1862
• 6.5
 EARTHQUAKE HISTORY OF GHANA
• Every building in Accra was razed to the ground. Christiansborg Castle and Forts at Accra were rendered
uninhabitable. The quake was felt as far away as Togo. The water level in Mono river in Togo fell much below its
normal level. In land intensity of the shock was less than on the coast and intensity also decreased towards the
west and there were no damages at Cape Coast.
• 1906
• 5.0
• Many government buildings in Accra were cracked, the Castles and Forts on the coast suffered more. The shock
caused alarm but no damages at Akropong, Aburi, Somanya, Kpong, Akuse, and Nsawam. The shocks were also
felt as far as the republic of Togo.
• 1939
• 6.5
• The earthquake of 22 June 1939 has been a subject of extensive study. Intensity of the shock was greatest at the
area between Accra, Weija and Fete, and particularly at Nyanyanu. The intensity reached 9 on the modified
Mercalli scale. In Accra, 16 people were killed and 133 injured.
• 1964
• 4.5
• This was felt mainly at Akosombo
• 1969
• 4.7
• Felt mainly in Accra
•
STUDIES ON THE 1939 EARHQUAKE
• As a result of the 1939 earthquake, Junner et.
al., 1940 prepared the following maps.
MICROSEISMIC ZONING MAP OF
GHANA
SEISMIC RISK MAP OF GHANA
 ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
• Gold mining in Ghana has brought with it the
discharge of mercury and arsenic into the
environment. (V. K. Nartey et al.,2006)
• Chernobyl and the contaminated milk in
Ghana.
• Print and electronic media are very active in
the country and must be educated.
 ROLE OF THE GHANA NUCLEAR
SOCIETY
• Ghana Nuclear Society is actively involved in
educating the public.
• Responding to the small anti-nuclear lobby.
 CONCLUSIONS
• Ghana has a well documented seismic history
which will help in the selection of the best
possible site for a nuclear power plant.
• A committee has been formed to see to the
various aspects of siting.
• Environmental concerns are being addressed
at this early stage.
 References
• Amponsah, P,. (2010), personal communication
• Junner, N. R., Dates, D. A., Tillotson, E., and
Deakin, C. S., (1940)The Accra Earthquake of 22nd
June 1939. Gold Coast Geological Survey (Bulletin
No.13)
• Nartey, V. K., Donkor, A. K., Bonzongo, J.C.,
Adotey, D. K., Doamekpor, L. K., (2006), Mercury
contamination due to artisanal Gold mining in
South Western Ghana. Legon Journal of Science,
Volume 1.
THANK YOU