The Geological Survey Department and the European Union (EU) are undertaking a 40 million Euro geological mapping up exercise to find more minerals in the country. The exercise would cover 55 square kilometres land in the Begoro, Kwabeng, Mpraeso areas in the Eastern region and Prang area in the Brong Ahafo region. It is being founded by the EU which would enable invertors to assist in mining them. Addressing a durbar of Chiefs and people from the Kwahu Traditional area at Mpraeso, a geologist from the geological survey department, Mr Kwame Odame Boama said the discovery of more minerals would generate a lot of revenue towards the country’s development. He said modern sophisticated equipment had been acquired for the discovery of different kinds of minerals for exploration by both local and foreign investors to generate adequate revenue for the country’s economic development. Mr Boama noted that a helicopter would be used in the exercise where some staff would be dropped to certain areas to collect soil and stone samples for examination and urged farmers and other people in the communities not to panic during the exercise. He said the exercise was capital intensive and called for co-operation from the assembly and people in the area to ensure its success, adding that, a similar one had been completed in the Nkwanta, Bole and Asankragua areas two years ago. Nana Onwona Asante, District Chief Executive for the area commended the department for including the district in the exercise and gave the assurance that the assembly and the people would co-operate to ensure its success. Mr Raymond Osafo Djan, Special Assistant to the Eastern Regional Minister, said though mining provided an alternative source of livelihood it could affect the environment and other social amenities and therefore urged the mining companies to pay adequate compensation to the affected people to enhance their living standards. Source: GNA