The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Emmanuel Kwamena Ayeme, says the government is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and drone technology to transform mining regulation in Ghana from a largely reactive process to a proactive and preventive system.

According to Mr Ayeme, traditional inspection methods are increasingly inadequate in addressing persistent challenges such as illegal mining, environmental degradation and the difficulty of monitoring operations across vast and remote areas.

Speaking at a conference on the use of drones in Africa on Tuesday, February 10, he said the Commission has adopted drone surveillance and AI-powered analytics to strengthen regulatory oversight and enforcement.

He explained that drones now enable regulators to conduct real-time monitoring of mining sites, detect illegal operations, assess environmental impact and verify compliance with approved mining plans. These tools, he noted, improve efficiency, reduce operational costs, enhance inspector safety and generate high-quality data to support enforcement actions.

“When combined with artificial intelligence, these technologies become even more powerful,” Mr Ayeme said.

“AI allows regulators to analyse large volumes of aerial and geospatial data, automatically identify signs of non-compliance, and predict environmental risks before they escalate. This shifts regulation from a reactive approach to a proactive and preventive system.”

Mr Ayeme disclosed that the Minerals Commission has already deployed drone surveillance to monitor illegal mining activities in environmentally sensitive areas, including parts of the Ashanti and Western Regions.

He said the aerial data gathered has helped identify unlicensed operations, track land degradation and support coordinated enforcement actions with other state agencies, including the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and the Allied Police Unit (APU).

“This has improved accuracy, reduced response time, and strengthened evidence-based decision-making. However, technology must be supported with clear, forward-looking policy,” he noted.

Mr Ayeme called on the government to establish a robust legal framework for the use of drones in regulatory oversight, align mining, aviation and data protection regulations, and invest in institutional capacity to manage and interpret digital data.

Such a policy framework, he argued, would promote collaboration with technology providers and local innovators while safeguarding citizens’ privacy and national interests.

“At the Minerals Commission, our objective is to ensure that innovation strengthens regulation while protecting communities, the environment, and national interest,” he said.

“Strong policy provides confidence to investors, reassurance to communities, and effectiveness to regulators.”

He added that embracing smart regulatory technologies is critical to promoting responsible mining, improving transparency and building public trust in mining governance, not only in Ghana but across Africa.

“In mining, data is as good as money. Ladies and gentlemen, drone innovation supported by sound policy and effective oversight offers the government a powerful pathway to sustainable mining and shared responsibility.”