Parliament to amend Geological Survey Bill 2015

Parliament will soon begin making amendments to the Ghana Geological Survey Bill 2015 following the presentation of the report of the Select Committee on Mines and Energy on the bill to the House.

The Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Amadu Sorogho said the passage of the Bill would provide the framework for the promotion of standards of professional conduct and efficiency in geological matters.

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He said it will also enable data acquisition to guide effective management of natural disasters, water resources and environmental management in the country.

The Geological Survey Department was established in 1913 and its Act, the Survey Act 127 was promulgated in 1962.

The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh told parliament that the Bill stands to remedy the challenges facing the department which include the mass exodus of its staff and make the mandate of the Department to reflect current developments.

The new Act will also make the Department an Authority.

The MP for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem , Dr Nana Ato Arthur said the regulatory function of the authority must be made clear.

A Deputy Majority Whip, Ibrahim Ahmed said the composition of the governing body of the authority will have to be properly constituted so as not to create any conflict of interests.

Provisions in the bill include funding for the authority, the authority’s intellectual property and foreign activities of the authority.

By Parliamentary correspondents