The Minerals Commission of Ghana is harnessing drone technology to intensify its fight against illegal mining, a menace that has severely degraded the country’s water bodies and farmlands. The high-tech solution, revealed at the ongoing Mining in Motion 2025 summit in Accra, is transforming how Ghana monitors, manages, and protects its mineral resources.
At the summit, Dr. Sylvester Akpah, Lead Consultant at the Commission, demonstrated how drones equipped with real-time aerial surveillance capabilities are enabling authorities to detect illicit mining activities across mineral-rich zones. The technology offers a bird’s-eye view of remote areas where illegal miners often operate undetected.
“There is a need for us to support the government’s agenda to ensure mining is done legally and sustainably. The aerial imagery we obtain from drones allows us to monitor vast areas efficiently,” Dr. Akpah said.
The drones are powered by artificial intelligence (AI), which analyzes the footage to detect mining activity and determine its legality. Once identified, the exact coordinates are flagged, allowing security agencies to respond swiftly.
“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,” Dr. Akpah added.
Illegal mining, locally known as “galamsey,” has become a national crisis in Ghana, contaminating major rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, and Offin with mercury and other chemicals. The destruction of forests and arable lands has also led to food insecurity in some communities, prompting calls for stronger enforcement and innovative tools to combat the practice.
In addition to surveillance, the drones track excavators used in mining operations, helping the Commission determine ownership, legality, and the movement of mined materials. This data supports transparency and accountability within the mineral value chain.
The drone-collected data is integrated into the Commission’s internal monitoring systems, where it is processed and analyzed by local data analysts. This effort is not only strengthening oversight but also contributing to digital skills development among Ghanaian professionals.
“We’re building local capacity in data science while safeguarding the environment,” Dr. Akpah noted, highlighting how the initiative aligns with Ghana’s broader digital transformation agenda in the extractive sector.
