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Accra (AFP) Mar 29, 2006 People across Ghana are preparing for a rare lifetime opportunity when the country experiences its first total solar eclipse in 59 years, amid fears that fake viewing glasses could render people blind. With an average adult life expectancy of around 57 years according to the United Nations, many will not miss what could be their only opportunity to watch the eclipse due to be seen between 0830 and 0930 GMT on Wednesday. Authorities will sound sirens across the country to announce the phenomenon, which is expected to last only a few minutes. The last eclipse seen in the west African country was in 1947. As it passes over Ghana a total of 1,433 towns and villages will fall in the path of the eclipse, which happens when the moon completely covers the sun. But fears are mounting that the event will leave many with eye damage from looking at the sun directly without protective glasses, especially in remote villages. Even where the eclipse is only partial, looking at the sun without protective glasses is harmful to the eyes. But in a country as desperately poor as Ghana, very few will be able to afford the special goggles. Some nine million specially imported protective viewing glasses have been sold at between 1.09 dollars and 3.26 dollars a pair, in a country where the majority lives on less than a dollar a day. And as the eclipse nears the prices are soaring. Most of the officially designated vendors had sold out on Tuesday and those glasses still available were twice their normal price. "Many cannot afford them for themselves," said Mike Tetteh, an economist with one of the leading banks in Accra. Unscrupulous traders have taken advantage and are selling fake glasses made from plain coloured polythene sheets at less than the going price. Kwesi Nyamekye, an accountant, said she would protect her children's eyes by keeping them away from school Wednesday. "So I don't have any doubts I will keep them indoors," she said. Authorities have ordered that schools open an hour earlier Wednesday to allow teachers enough time to prepare their pupils. The eclipse will be seen in an area spanning 14,500 kilometres (9,000 miles), from Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Niger and Libya, to Greece, Turkey, Georgia, southern Russia and Kazakhstan.
Source: Agence France-Presse Related Links -
Watch The 2006 Total Eclipse With ESA
Paris, France (SPX) Mar 29, 2006On Wednesday 29 March 2006, the Moon's shadow will sweep over the surface of Earth during the fourth total solar eclipse of this century. The path of the Moon's 'umbral' shadow begins in Brazil at 10:35 CEST and crosses the Atlantic reaching Africa about 11:08 CEST, where it will travel over the northern part of the continent. |
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