Keypoints:
- AI drones deployed to track illegal mining
- Tech pinpoints sites, excavators and mineral flows
- Data analysed locally to boost digital skills
GHANA is stepping up its crackdown on illegal mining—known locally as ‘galamsey’—through the deployment of AI-powered drone surveillance, in a bold move to strengthen oversight and accountability in the country’s minerals sector.
At the Mining in Motion 2025 summit which ends in Accra on Wednesday, the Minerals Commission of Ghana unveiled how advanced aerial monitoring is now being used to identify and combat unauthorised mining activities in real time, while also supporting national digitalisation goals.
Real-time aerial surveillance now operational
Dr Sylvester Akpah, Lead Consultant at the Minerals Commission, said the drones offer a transformative solution.
‘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 is a game-changer,’ he told delegates at the summit.
The drones are deployed across mineral-rich regions, capturing live footage which is then processed using artificial intelligence (AI) to detect anomalies and pinpoint suspected illegal mining operations.
AI sharpens law enforcement precision
Akpah explained that AI is capable of differentiating legal from illegal mining activity, based on the drone imagery. Once a suspicious site is confirmed, security agencies can be dispatched to take action using accurate GPS coordinates.
The technology also tracks excavator movements, helping regulators determine ownership and monitor the legality of their deployment—key in a country where heavy machinery is often misused in illicit operations.
Monitoring mineral flows and equipment
Beyond surveillance, the drone system provides intelligence on mineral extraction patterns and helps map the flow of minerals from point of origin to transport. This oversight strengthens the traceability of Ghana’s mineral supply chain and discourages smuggling and underreporting.
‘This helps us build a more transparent value chain and reduce leakages that cost the country millions,’ Akpah said.
Local data analysis builds tech skills
Importantly, all data gathered is integrated into the Minerals Commission’s internal systems and analysed by locally trained data analysts, reinforcing Ghana’s broader push toward digital capacity-building in the public sector.
‘This is not just about catching illegal miners—it’s about building local skills in drone data interpretation, digital mapping, and AI analytics,’ Akpah added.
A regional model for smart resource governance
Ghana’s initiative reflects a broader trend across Africa where governments are turning to digital tools to curb illegal resource extraction, often associated with environmental degradation, loss of revenue, and violent conflicts.
With the illegal mining threat still looming large, Ghana’s AI drone programme could serve as a replicable model for other mineral-rich African nations, aiming to balance economic opportunity with environmental and regulatory responsibility.
