The Director General of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA), Mr Isaac Mwinbelle, has urged the public to consult the Authority when selecting potential construction sites.
That, he said, would help to lessen the effects of disasters like earthquakes.
He made the call at a one-day media sensitization workshop organized by the Authority on Wednesday in Accra.
He noted, “What you learn from the experiences in Turkey and Syria is that some buildings in Turkey collapsed while others were still standing in terms of construction. The construction was flawed, the materials might have been problematic, or those buildings were situated in weak areas. That said, it would be up to us Ghanaians to ensure that the Authority is involved in any future construction projects so that we can identify and demarcate any potential weak spots and avoid building on them.”
He stated that no mining activity can take place without geological information and data from the GGSA and thus information and data from the GGSA have always been critical for national development.
Mr Mwinbelle dismissed claims that the GGSA only functions to conduct surveying activities in the mining sector, making clear that the organization’s role also includes advising the government on all issues covered by Act 928.
On his part, the Board Chairman of GGSA, Mr Philip Oduro Amoako, stated that the organization understands the critical role the media plays in disseminating information about the Authority’s activities.
According to him, the goal of the engagement was to strengthen the bond between the GGSA and the media as well as give the media the ability to write stories and reports about events involving the Authority.
He cited instances where there were some discrepancies in media reportage geological issues and stressed that it was because of these problems that the GGSA have started making efforts to close the gap between it and the media.
The workshop forms part of a series of programmes lined up by the GGSA to sensitize the Media on its mandates, activities and objectives.
Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD
