Ghana Deploys AI-Powered Drones to Crack Down on Illegal Mining and Restore Degraded Lands
Ghana’s Minerals Commission is taking a bold step in the fight against illegal mining by deploying drone technology integrated with artificial intelligence to monitor and regulate mining activity across the country. This high-tech initiative, highlighted during the ongoing Mining in Motion 2025 summit in Accra, represents a strategic advancement in safeguarding the nation’s natural resources and reversing environmental degradation.
According to Dr. Sylvester Akpah, Lead Consultant at the Minerals Commission, the drones provide real-time aerial surveillance of mineral-rich regions, enabling authorities to detect and act swiftly against unauthorized mining operations. “Through the aerial imagery we obtain, we are able to identify illegal sites with pinpoint accuracy and coordinate enforcement action,” he said.
The impact of illegal mining, commonly referred to as ‘galamsey’, has been devastating, particularly to Ghana’s water bodies and agricultural lands. Rivers like the Pra, Ankobra, and Offin have been heavily polluted, affecting both drinking water and irrigation. Farmlands have also been destroyed by unregulated excavation, threatening food security in several regions.
The new drone system not only detects illegal operations but also tracks the movement of excavators and monitors the transportation of mined minerals, thereby strengthening oversight across the entire mining value chain. AI algorithms analyze drone footage to differentiate between legal and illegal operations and automatically flag areas for investigation.
The data gathered is processed by local analysts and fed into the Commission’s centralized systems, contributing to skill development in geospatial analysis and supporting Ghana’s broader digital transformation agenda in the extractive sector.
“The integration of technology into mineral regulation is a game-changer. It helps us protect our environment, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that mining benefits the nation sustainably,” Dr. Akpah explained.
