Accra, July 8, Residents in high-rise buildings were today advised not to pound fufu on the upper floors. The advice was given by the geological disasters sub-committee of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO). Dr. A. Ofori Quaah, Chairman of the Sub-Committee, told the GRi in an interview in Accra that the practice, apart from being a general nuisance to occupants of lower floors, cumulatively weakens the structures of the buildings. This makes them more susceptible to collapse in a major earthquake. ”Studies of the recent earthquake sequence in Accra have shown that locations of many of these buildings are subject to site amplification and thus intense shaking. ”Occupants of such buildings are strongly advised to desist from pounding fufu on the higher floors.” Dr. Quaah appealed to people who make extensions to buildings in the Accra-Tema area to seek the necessary engineering and geological advice prior to such alterations.
