The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources has commissioned a multi-purpose drilling rig for the Geological Survey Department to engage in effective mineral exploration. Alhaji Inusah Fuseini said the acquisition of the new drilling rig, costing over one million Ghana Cedis, was one of the important steps being taken by government to revamp the department. He said adequate training was needed to strengthen the capacity of the personnel to enable them “capture minerals in maximum quantities.” The Minister told the personnel to put the machine into effective use, and expressed government’s commitment to promulgate the GGS Department Amendment Bill to address challenges facing it. Mr John Agyei Duodu, Director of Geological Survey Department, said a new drilling rig had different methods, and could be used to drill all kinds of minerals, unlike the old convention that had one method of drilling. He added that the machine, which comes with training and spare parts packages, could drill 2,600 metres in-depth. The Director told the Ghana News Agency that in spite of the important role of the Department in mineral discovery and exploration, little attention was being given to it. Mr Duodu said, as a result, many personnel were leaving the place and called on government to speed up the passage of the Geological Survey Amendment Bill currently before Cabinet to transform it (Department) into actionable institution capable of executing its core functions. He also appealed to government to resource the Department with trucks, rods, generator, casing, vehicles and sleeping cabins for efficient operations.