Technology takes centre stage in fight against illegal mining - Dr Akpah

Ghana’s long-standing fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, may be shifting into a new phase driven by technology, data systems, and satellite-based monitoring rather than solely physical enforcement.

A senior lecturer at the University of Mines and Technology and consultant at Smart Innovations Limited, Sylvester Akpah, says the country is making progress by integrating modern technological tools into its anti-galamsey efforts.

Speaking on the evolving approach, Dr Akpah said Ghana is adopting an intervention that has not been widely used in the past.

“I think that we are in the right direction, not because I'm leading the charge, but it's actually an intervention that we've never employed before,” he stated.

For years, successive governments have relied heavily on task forces and military-led operations to combat illegal mining activities.

However, Dr Akpah argues that such human-centred approaches alone are insufficient and often limited by operational challenges.

“I think technology actually helps to augment already existing processes… when we have a lot of human intervention in processes, it also has its own challenges, the human factor,” he explained.

According to him, the emerging system focuses on leveraging digital tools, including tracking technologies, to monitor mining equipment and activities nationwide.

The goal is to close long-standing loopholes that have enabled illegal miners to operate undetected or evade enforcement.

The initiative reflects a growing shift towards data-driven environmental governance as authorities intensify efforts to protect water bodies, forest reserves, and degraded lands affected by illegal mining.

Dr Akpah’s comments add to ongoing national discussions about how best to sustainably address galamsey, with increasing emphasis on combining enforcement with innovation.

NA/VPO

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