By Edzorna Francis Mensah
As illegal mining in some parts of Ghana has badly polluted several water bodies and left many communities in a bad state, the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) is calling for more funds in order to function properly in the areas of Mineral Exploration, & Environmental Geology as established under Act 2016 (Act 928).
The Authority visioned to be a world-class Geoscientific Resource Centre when it comes to mapping out areas on Geological, Geophysical, Geochemical, and Hydrogeological and also carrying out regular monitoring of seismic (Earthquake) is struggling to geologically map virgin areas in the country to identify various rock types and possible economic mineral potentials.
The Authority is mandated by the GGSA Act, 2016 (Act 928) to advise, promote and research geoscientific issues concerning mineral resources, groundwater, environment, geo-hazards and land use planning to support sustainable economic development in Ghana but these activities are becoming a mirage due to inadequate allocation of funds from the Central Government through the supervisory Ministry.
Speaking to gbcghanaonline.com at the ongoing fourth biennial national conference by Ghana Institute of Geoscientists in Sunyani, the Acting Director-General of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority, Isaac Kuuwan Mwinbelle is worried about the fact that, the Authority is under-resourced and they cannot perform satisfactorily.
The Ghana Geological Survey Authority operates under the new Ghana Geological Survey Authority Act 2016 (Act 928).
The Act 928 was enacted to replace the Survey Act, 1962 (Act 127) which established Geological Survey Department.
Mr. Mwinbelle said the Authority, as the principal curator of national geoscientific data, has the main task to continuously generate, collect, store and archive relevant geoscientific data, and to disseminate data and information in a user-friendly way to government, industry and the public at large with dedicated and motivated staff.
Its core duties include but are not limited to prospect for new deposits to replenish depleting resources; To diversify traditional minerals to non-traditional ones such as base metals, coltan and industrial minerals and importantly establishing a geochemical background of the country which is directly relevant to mineral deposits, environmental aspects, agriculture, forestry, animal and human health and land use planning with a view to sustainable development.
This year’s focused on “Strategic Natural Resources Exploration and Exploitation: Guarantee for Sustainable Development”.
