Hon. George Mireku Duker - MP, Tarkwa-Nsuaem. the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Mining has challenged the management of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) to develop a comprehensive and strategic plan that will ensure a complete transformation of the authority. 

The Deputy Minister is concerned that the GGSA which has the capacity to be a major revenue source for the Ministry and to a large extent the country has failed to meet it expectations. 

Speaking during a working visit to the GGSA on Friday, 01 September 2023, Hon. Duker expressed confidence in the current management led by Mr Isaac Kuuwan Mwinbelle to implement policies and initiatives that will ensure that the fortunes of the GGSA takes an upward trajectory. 

He espoused the 10-year transformational policy will serve as a guide and plan for not just the current administration but future management on how to revamp the GGSA and reposition it as a ‘cash cow’ for government and the country. 

Hon. Duker holds that the time has come for a paradigm shift in the activities of the GGSA and that Mr Mwinbelle is more than capable of leading that charge. 

According to him, the GGSA can position itself as the first institution of contact for investors who seek knowledge about Ghana’s mining industry and the opportunities therein. 

He assured that the Ministry will continue to support the GGSA and help it accomplish it objectives. 

“When someone is moving into the country as an investor to mine, I believe the first point of call should be the GGSA. I want the Director-General to add his vision to what his predecessors achieved. The fundamentals are clear and we need to build on”, he said.

“I believe government is ready to resource this institution to the pedestal that we want. Let’s have a masterplan. If you could develop a 10-year masterplan to cut the path for all of us to follow that this is the GGSA we want to see in ten years. It is very important and key for this institution”, the Deputy Minister added.

The Director-General of the GGSA, Mr Isaac Kuuwan Mwinbelle welcomed the counsel from Hon. Mireku Duker and indicated some activities embarked on by his outfit to develop the GGSA. 

He listed that the GGSA has been collaborating with the Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC) for on-shore prospecting for oil in various parts of the country.

He also disclosed that the GGSA, in an attempt to strengthen its relationship with the media and Ghanaians has been holding regional workshops to train media practitioners on the mandate of the GGSA and seismic occurrences.

Sompaonline.com/Nana Yaw Boamah