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26.07.2014 Opinion

Black Rainfall In The Krobo Area: Are The Krobo Gods To Be Blamed??

A Krobo Scientist To The Rescue
By Isaac Otu
Black Rainfall In The Krobo Area: Are The Krobo Gods To Be Blamed??
26.07.2014 LISTEN

Wonders they say will never end. Wednesday July 23rd will forever remain in the history books of the Krobo people when they experienced a different form of rainfall. Black water rained from the sky in the morning of the said day. The water from the rainfall was darker in colour, and could not be used for any domestic chore. This phenomenon was also reportedly experienced in some other towns of the country, and has since gained lots of media attention all over the country.

This rare happening has sent shivers down the spines of many people in the Krobo area who have been trying to read meanings into the phenomenon. Whiles many are attributing it to the works of the lesser gods, and that the lesser gods are angry, others are also attributing it to the memorial celebrations of the late former president of the Ghana; John Evans Atta Mills.

However, a prominent scientist who hail from the Krobo area, and works at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital; Jonathan Kelvin Semetey, disagrees with the claims of the people. He told Kloma Hengme; a Krobo Youth and advocacy Association, on Friday Morning that the claims of the people are baseless and are untrue. He is therefore appealing to the people to remain calm.

He said, it is simply due to 'Serious air pollution, and is a sulphur related acid rain'. He said caution needs to be taken about the way tyres are burnt, and the way air is polluted in the Krobo area.

Scientifically, he explained that when sulphur is oxidized to form sulphite, it then reacts with water as in the equation:

SO3+H20= H2S04. He said this is tetraoxosulphate VI cid, commonly called Sulphuric acid. He continued that, 'Since sulphur related materials are black, that is the black you saw in the rain water'. 'There is no myth about this, the people must just avoid contact with the skin, since it can be corrosive' he added.

The Krobo area, especially the entire Somanya township, has for some time now been completely engulfed in filth. For over three months, zoomlion containers which were very full were not emptied, forcing the citizenry to throw their rubbish on to the grounds. The Municipal Assembly complained of faulty conveyance trucks, and shortage of funds.

This has resulted in the entire Somanya township becoming smelly from the stench that emanated from these filth. The situation was worst at the Plau, the area behind the Somanya Roundabout market.

It has to take the intervention of Kloma Hengme to team up with the Assemblyman for the Plau electoral area; Michael Nuertey, and the Municipal Chief Executive; Andrews Soda Tetteh, few days ago to use all 'ways and means' to evacuate the heap of refuse at Plau. However, there more of these refuse to be evacuated especially behind the Somanya Presbyterian Church Building.

For Further Inquiries:

0244 036651/

0243 804684/

0544 339166

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