A Ghanaian scientist, Dr Amamoo Otchere has described the use of mobile phones during rainstorms as hazardous saying the practice has the potential to attract lighting to the users.

Dr Otchere, who is the Director of the Centre for Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems at Legon, therefore advised users of cell phones not to keep them on their bodies during storms.

He said like all electrical gadgets, cell phones were poor conductors and could easily attract lightning which could harm the users.

Reacting to reports of the presence of lightning in parts of Accra at the weekend during the heavy down pour, Dr Otchere said lightning was a phenomenon of nature and that the only thing man could do about it was to protect himself or herself from its dangerous consequences by putting away all electrical gadgets from his or her body and also getting away from such items.

He added that in times of such occurrence, people should stay away from tress which could be affected and fall on them.

Dr Otchere reiterated his earlier warning that house owners should fix lightning arrestors on their buildings to prevent the effects of lightning should it occur.

As to where one could get a lightning arrestor, he said, “Any good electrician should be able to make it.”

He cautioned that in the event of such incidents, people should lie flat, else they should in the way of the phenomenon, a situation which could be deadly.

He said lightning was not peculiar to Ghana but occurred all over the world, adding that in the United States of America about 100 people got killed by it each year.

He said in spite of its bad side, lightning had a good side because it converted nitrogen in the atmosphere to produce natural fertilizer to nourish the soil,

A number of the residents who spoke a few hours after the rainfall said the lightning narrowly missed them by some few metres.

A young pregnant lady who did not want her name published said a strong force hit her hand in which she was holding a spoon and she nearly fell. At the time of filing this report her right arm was swollen.

Dr Otchere said the lady was fortunate to be alive.

Source: Daily Graphic