The Minerals Commission of Ghana – the body responsible for the regulation and management of the country’s mineral resources – is utilising drone technology to address illegal mining known locally as Galamsey.
This innovative solution not only enables the government to combat illegal processes, but supports mining operations through geological tracking and oversight.
Tackling illegal mining in Ghana constituted one of the most salient campaign promises by President John Mahama before his re-election last December.
Galamsey is the loose term used to describe the illegal scramble for gold in Ghana’s depleting forests which environmentalists say amounts to environmental genocide.
As the price of precious metal increases in recent years, the mining of gold intensified in a country grappling with unemployment.
This gold rush is mainly played out in thickly forested areas dotted around the country ranked sixth in the world for the export of this precious resource which has attracted tens of thousands of operators operating illegally.
Environmental activists have decried the pressure on the land and vegetation where the effects of Galamsey have left their marks, scaring rivers, lakes and even human settlements.
The example of the pollution of the River Pra with thick yellowy residue finding its way from nearby mining sites to its river bed, threatening fisheries resources is a source of consternation for environmental campaigners.
Its water is no longer as ‘crystal clear” as it used to be decades ago when mining activities were at a bare minimum and not as intensive and sophisticated as today.
The Chinese looking to cash in on this mad rush for Ghanaian gold involved.
Galamsey has come a long way from the use of basic implements to carry out mining using spades and hands for digging. Today the advent of the Chinese meant more sophisticated equipment are used to more effectively extract gold from the ground. The result has been vast swathes of mining areas scared to a devastating effect for the environment.
At the Mining in Motion 2025 summit – taking place this week in Accra – Dr. Sylvester Akpah, Lead Consultant at the Minerals Commission, showcased how the drones provide real-time aerial surveillance of mining concessions and mineral-rich areas, enabling authorities to detect and respond to illegal operations.
“There is a need for us to support the government’s agenda to ensure mining is done legally and sustainably, through the aerial imagery we obtain from drones,” Akpah said.
He explained that artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into the system to analyse drone footage and pinpoint the exact coordinates of suspected illegal mining activities.
“With AI, we can determine whether a site is legal or illegal. Once that’s confirmed, security agencies can be deployed to take appropriate action,” he said.
Beyond identifying unauthorised mining, the technology also allows for tracking of excavators, providing insights into ownership, operational legality and the movement of mined minerals.
This enhances regulatory oversight and transparency in the mineral value chain.
Data collected by the drones is integrated into the Minerals Commission of Ghana’s internal systems, where it is analyzed by trained local data analysts.
According to Akpah, the data acquisition and processing contributes to local skills development and supports Ghana’s broader digitalisation efforts in the mining sector.
WN/as/APA