Abesim, Jan. 18, GNA - Residents of towns in the Brong-Ahafo Region poured into the streets in the early hours of Monday following rumours that there would be an earthquake in some parts of the country. In Sunyani and the other towns, the Ghana News Agency gathered that hundreds of residents including school children, nursing mothers, pregnant women and the aged broke their sleep around 0200 hours to seek shelter at open places including parks and near roads. The GNA met some of them in groups by the road sides around 0500 hours discussing the matter.

Mr George Senaya, a student of the University of Education, Winneba, said a friend called and asked him whether the earthquake would strike as it was in the news all over the place. He said personally he was not aware of any such information but people were out in their numbers from their rooms and were expressing their views on whether it was true or not. "I myself wasn't worried about the earthquake scare because Ghana is not an earthquake prone country like other countries. There are two places, Weija and MaCarthy Hill in the Greater Accra Region, that are noted for such disasters. As a Christian I know that these things are to be expected in the end times so I just asked my friend to pray", Senaya said.

Mr Isaac K. Mensah, Marketing Executive at Star Assurance, said his co-tenant called him at 0330 hours to inform him that he had got news about the earthquake and came out of his room. "It was then that I received calls from my friends in Accra, Swedru, Kumasi and Mampong and I started calling my colleagues. My co-tenants were afraid but I was not perturbed by the news since the Brong-Ahafo Region is not part of the earthquake zone", he said.

Mr. Andrews Kyeremeh, a COCOBOD security guard, said his sister called him at about 0400 hours to inform him about the looming danger and asked him to verify from his uncle if they had any news of the impending earthquake. "I was indoors with my family and was not afraid because I knew it doesn't really matter your location, one could fall a victim to the disaster when it strikes so I rather sought refuge indoors", Mr. Kyeremeh said.

At Abesim, near Sunyani, Madam Mary Akosua Darkwaa, a 63-year-old trader told the GNA: "My son rang me from Koforidua and informed me that there is going to be an earthquake. With shock and panic I also called to inform my other relatives and friends". Mr Kwaku Nsiah, a taxi driver, said he received a text message from a friend in Takoradi who broke the news about the impending earthquake. He said he took the message very serious and rushed out of his room, carrying along his driving licence. Mrs. Leticia Amponsah Gyan, a nursing mother said: "I did not panic when I heard the news because I am a Christian and have faith in God but I rushed to this place because Christians should not also take things for granted". People in Berekum, Dormaa Ahenkro, Kintampo, Techiman and virtually all the major towns in the region poured into the cold harmattan weather with their children to seek shelter in the open places. A report came from Chiraa, near Sunyani said as at about 0800 hours some of the residents were still at the school parks in spite of the government's announcement to dispel the rumour.