Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines on Wednesday said plans are under way to grant the Geological Survey Department (GSD) autonomy to make it distinct from the Civil Service.

He said a proposal submitted after a World Bank study in 1997 and other surveys by the department showed that the GSD would function effectively if it stands on its own.

The minister announced this when he interacted with management and staff of the GSD during a visit to acquaint himself with its operations in Accra.

Dr. Afriyie said the government would release money to the department to enable it to carry out its field assignments that were halted because of lack of funds.

"The government is committed to the development of the human resource base of the department'', he told the staff who, he said, would benefit from scholarship schemes and foreign trips to learn and share experiences with their counterparts in other parts of the world to enhance their performance.