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Ghana Gold Trip 

I thought it might be fun to give everyone a front row seat to a prospecting trip I have planned.

Let me begin by saying that I never intended to travel anywhere further than the Western United States. I've always been of the mindset, "If I want to see (fill in the blank), I'll go online and look at pictures." But now I find myself in the strange position of planning a trip to West Africa just the same as if I were going to drive a few hours away for a prospecting trip.

It all started when I got an order for one of my CC690 power sluices from a gentleman in Canada.  He had a few prospecting questions, and so we talked on and off over the next few weeks. One thing led to another, and he suggested that I come to Ghana with him (where he is from) and help show his village how to mine for gold. I brushed aside the suggestion without consideration because it was not something to which I would ever give a second thought. It might be fun to wish on about, just like going to Australia or the Sudan to prospect for gold would be, but certainly nothing to entertain seriously. The gentleman from Ghana turned out to be Christian and took a lot of time explaining to me things about his country and in particular the Ashanti region from which he was from. After many conversations, I came to realize this was not something I was needing to be convinced of so much as it was something I was supposed to go do. I have had many previous offers to come prospect here or go help with some operation over there, but nothing that I seriously considered even though they were much closer to home. Now here was an opportunity much further away, but after much thought and prayer(and conversation with the other half), there is no reservation in my mind about going.

I applied for my passport in July and it arrived in early August. On September 5th I booked my plane ticket ($1438.10). I got my Yellow Fever and other vaccines out of the way on September 6th to the tune of $261.00.  I have my application in with the Ghana embassy right now for a travel visa. It has been decided that November is the best time to be in Ashanti due to the wet season being over.

My Ghanaian partner (yes, it will be a partnership of sorts) has the concessions(leases) to some incredibly rich gold areas but doesn't have the knowledge, equipment or contacts to effectively work these goldfields. This is where I will be able to help. Right now, the concept of mining in these areas is limited to lining a wooden trough with blankets and using that as a sluice.

My partner had previously purchased a Fisher Gold Bug Pro metal detector to use while he was in Ghana. He didn't know at the time, but I am well versed with the Fisher Gold Bug 2 and am presently getting the same way with the Pro. So by the time we meet in Accra, I will be able to provide him with some expert instruction. I will also bring a Minelab GPX4500 detector which is only surpassed in detection capability by the new model GPX5000 Minelab. If this venture works out as I think, we will be detecting some virgin ground that has gold and also the added bonus of little to no trash targets. Literally a nuggetshooter's dream!

I will write some more as plans firm up, but exact places and dates will probably be left vague. I also don't know if I will be able to add to this blog while I am in Ghana. I just don't know the state of wifi and internet connections over there. I have plenty more research to do just to get ready.

Lucky Joe