Elmina Jan.13, GNA - Dr Thomas Kwesi Adu, Deputy Director of the Geological Survey Department (GSD), has described as misleading a caption dubbed “GSD confirms gold deposits at Elmina” carried by the Daily Graphic on Thursday January 12, 2012.

He said the caption was misleading because the investigations carried out by the Department showed only indications of gold occurrences and not a deposit at the Elmina beach.

Dr Adu who said this at a press conference in Elmina, explained that for the gold find to be described as a deposit, the GSD has to carry out laboratory tests to determine the gold grade of the beach sand and establish whether it is of economic value or not.

He said in principle, mineral deposits are concentrations of minerals that are of economic value and that in the Elmina beach alluvial-gold situation, GSD’s investigations so far have not shown anything of economic importance though there are indications of gold specks present.

Dr Adu, who is also the project coordinator, said in the geological terrain of Ghana, gold is present in the Birimian that occupies the western half of the country and that all rivers and streams from the north draining this terrain carry sediments load which are eventually deposited in the sea and later brought to the beach by wave action.

He said so far no economic assessment of the area has been made as samples are yet to be analyzed and results evaluated and appealed to the media to be circumspect in their reportage and endeavour to consult the right officials for the necessary information concerning the gold find.

Dr Adu rendered unqualified apologies to the sector Minister of Mines and Natural Resources, Mr Mike Hamah, The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe and the Municipal Chief Executive of KEEA, Mr Sam Arthur for the inconvenience the publication might have caused them.

Mr Sam Arthur, the Municipal Chief Executive of Komenda-Edina-Eguafo Abirem (KEEA), commended the GSD for conducting the survey on the Gold find and called on all galamsey operators and fisherman to cooperate with the GSD to enable them effectively perform their duties.

He urged the galamsey operators to exercise restraint and allow the GSD to come out with its final report on the gold find stressing that as much as it was the interest of the assembly to protect their interest and take care of their welfare it would not allow few people to jeopardize the future of the Elmina beaches.

He tasked the chief fireman to educate his men not to engage in galamsey businesses, adding that the necessary measures would be put in place to keep people off the beach to enable the GSD successfully complete its work.

The Chief Fisherman Nana Akonu commended the Municipal assembly and GSD for the prompt action they had taken to conduct a survey on the gold find at the beach and promised that he would educate his members on the need to stay away from mining at the beach until the GSD completes its survey.