The Geological Survey Department (GSD) of Ghana organised a Workshop dubbed “The specification and the feasibility of the sustainable use and exchange of geoscience data (i.e. environment, groundwater, energy, natural hazards, etc.) between the African countries”.

On 6 October 2010, a Stakeholders and End Users workshop was held at the Coconut Groove Hotel, Accra. The aims of the workshop were to :

• • Make AEGOS visible to the geosciences community, the government and public at large,
• • Stimulate expression of new end-user needs.

Have an overview of geoscientific data available in the country. The workshop started with speeches by the Director of the Geological Survey Department and the Honorable Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, who was the guest speaker for the function. The technical session began with presentations from various stakeholders in Ghana.

Among the presenters from various institutions were Ghana National Petroleum Corportion,University of Ghana, the Geological Survey Department, Survey and Mapping Division of the Lands Commission.Several stakeholder institutions from Ghana were represented i.e. Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC); Minerals Commission; University of Ghana; Hydrological Services Department. In his speech, the Minister assured the participants of the support of the Government of Ghana to AEGOS Project.

In conclusion, the presentations at the workshop gave an overview of the geoscientific data available in the country. With the presence of the print and electronic media, the Ghanaian public was informed about AEGOS project objectives and achievements. The participants agreed that the future AEGOS system will be very beneficial in advertising the geoscientific data both locally and to the international community thanks to interoperability ensured by the design of its Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI). This system will foster the sustainable use of mineral resources in the country.

K. BOAMAH (GSD, Ghana )

Work package 1 co-leader