Residents of Twifo Mampong, a farming community in the Central Region, were taken by surprise when a sudden occurrence suspected to be an earthquake struck some acres of their farmlands, according to a report by UTV News.

The incident, which occurred on Friday, July 7, 2023, resulted in the destruction of farmlands belonging to residents in the area. Cracks emerged on the land's surface, and certain areas collapsed, causing significant damage to several acres of cocoa farms.

The residents had invested countless hours and resources into cultivating their cocoa farms that had been in good shape for generations, but Friday's incident has dealt a devastating blow to the community.

Residents strongly believe that the occurrence is a direct consequence of the torrential rains that have been incessantly pouring in the area this year.

They, however, expressed relief that it did not occur near their homes; rather, the destructive event took place on their farmlands.

They acknowledged that if the calamity had struck their homes instead, the consequences would have been far more severe.

The destruction of their farms, although disheartening, according to the farmers was a more manageable situation compared to the potential loss of their personal shelters and the disruption of their daily lives.

Despite being affected economically and are now faced with the challenge of rebuilding their lost farmlands, they maintain a sense of gratitude that their homes remain intact and their families are safe.

While the District NADMO director for the area confirmed receiving reports of the incident, he is yet to visit the site to assess the extent of the damage.

Authorities are still working to determine the exact cause of the occurrence and its implications for the community. It is anticipated that they may also assess potential concerns related to air quality and the possibility of aftershocks, if the residents’ diagnosis is accurate.

The subject of earthquakes became a major topic in the first quarter of this year in Turkey and Syria with what is adjudged as one of the deadliest earthquakes of the 21st century.

Following this, there were several conversations in various countries about earthquake preparedness. One of such conversations resulted in the Head of the Earthquake Monitoring Division at the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GSSA), Nicholas Opoku, warning that Ghanaians should start bracing themselves for a possible earthquake following the frequent earth tremors Ghana has been experiencing in the past five years.