An information and sensitisation meeting involving stakeholders held on July 31, 2014.

The mineral wealth of the North West region is topical with the imminent geophysical survey of the area which already sounds off with exploration works for iron ore in the neighbourhoods of Mayo Binka, Nkambe and Ako as well as the exploitation for gold in Misaje and Sapphire in Ndumbu.

In effect, an airborne geophysical survey campaign has been launched to discover the riches of the region’s mineral resources with the Mining Sector Capacity-Building project (PRECASEM) raising awareness about the harmless nature of the exercise.

That was the subject of an information and sensitisation meeting that assembled administrators, mayors, traditional rulers, geologists and other stakeholders in Bamenda on July 31, 2014. It emerged from the session that the geophysical airborne survey expected to begin in the days ahead will involve aircrafts adapted to carry magnetic and radioactive sensors flying at very low altitudes. GEOTECH Airborne expert, Daniel Pagotto whose field role will be crucial during the operation, told Cameroon Tribune that the exercise will employ two aircrafts to cover the scheduled three-month survey. The result will be the production of a geologic map of the region to serve the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development as well as potential investors in the sector.

It was the Permanent Secretary in the North West governor’s office, Absalom Monono Wolua who told participants that the survey was triggered by the government and the initiative to sensitise the population comes in the backdrop of security threats that threaten social peace from some of Cameroon’s neighbours. He prescribed professionalism for actors in the exercise and challenged the population to collaborate because the exercise will size up mineral potentials to take the country’s development forward. The survey is also crucial in the delineation of risk zones.