GSD maps out areas for mineral deposits

April 12
Story & Pix: Nana Konadu Agyeman, Begoro
THE Geological Survey Department (GSD) has started mapping out some areas in three districts in the Eastern Region for mineral prospects.
The project, which is being done in the Fanteakwa, Atiwa and the Kwahu South districts, would lead to the exploration and mining of minerals such as gold, diamond, bauxite, iron ore and limestone in these areas.
The exercise, which would help form the basis for the compilation and upgrading of the existing geological map of the country, will involve air-borne surveys with the use of helicopters to collect soil samples for geochemical analysis of the minerals.
The project, which started in March, this year, and will be completed in June 2009, is being undertaken by a team of geological experts from the Federal Institute of Geosciences of South Africa, BGRM of France and Germany, as well as their Ghanaian counterparts.
It is being funded with grants from the European Union.
The Director of GSD, Mr John A. Duodu, who made this known at a durbar at Begoro to inform the chiefs and people of Fanteakwa about the project, said “a successful research geological mapping could lead to future mineral explorations to the benefit of the selected districts”.
The durbar was meant to seek the support of the people and also address their concerns with respect to the implementation of the research work.
Mr Duodu said the project, which was also being implemented in other parts of the country, including the Fo River Basin in the Volta Region and Prang in the Brong Ahafo Region, would create employment and ensure development in the beneficiary districts.
He, therefore, entreated the people not to entertain any fear or worry whenever they detected the presence of helicopters, which would be flying low for the purposes of the research work.
A representative of the Geosciences for Sustainable Earth of France, Mr Harve Theveniaut, said the research would be conducted in various communities to collect soil samples to enable the research team to draw up geological mapping to identify the various mineral sites.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, said the mining sector, which has contributed 38 per cent to the country’s export earnings and employs 36,000 people in the various beneficiary communities, had shown a significant improvement.
He said due to the friendly environment created by the government as a result of good governance, the EU had provided funding to revamp the mining industry under the Mining Sector Support Programme (MSSP).
The Begorohene, Osabarima Awuah Kotoko, who welcomed the initiative, urged his people to give the research team the necessary support to enable them to successfully carry out their work.
During an open forum, the people expressed concern about possible land degradation, pollution of water bodies, destruction of the farms and compensation as some of the problems they could face in the future and called on the authorities to institute the necessary measures to address such concerns.