FIDA International vice president Ursula Owusu is appalled by the virtual lack of education for Ghanaians on what to do to protect themselves in case an earthquake strikes. Some residents in parts of Accra reported experiencing an earth tremor early Wednesday, lasting a few seconds. The Meteorology Department however, says there are no seismic equipment to conduct surveys in order to warn people ahead of earthquakes/tremors. They are expecting to get some equipment in about 3-months. Ursula Owusu, who was contributing to discussions on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo programme Wednesday, said the situation is heartrending since such earth tremors occur as a warning to impending great earthquakes. She wondered what we are doing to protect ourselves as a nation when the real one [earthquake] occurs, acknowledging though that the meteo department cannot be solely blamed. She stressed the need to equip the unit with the right equipment to facilitate their work. Ursula also called on the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Geological Survey Department and the Information Services Department to be proactive in initiating intensified public education programmes to educate the people on what to do when there is an earthquake. She said she lived a while in Japan where the tremors occur frequently, and therefore even kindergarten kids are taught what to do in such situations. Ursula said the nation cannot afford to wait for the unthinkable to happen and the deaths to occur so the people would turn round to lament. She said something can be done about the situation and called for immediate action. Story by Dorcas Efe Mensah/myjoyonline.com/Ghana