The Minerals Commission has launched a pilot drone surveillance project at Bonsa Number Two in the Western Region as part of efforts to curb illegal mining and protect the country’s water bodies.
The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to deploy technology-driven solutions to monitor mining activities and safeguard the environment.
Ahead of the launch, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr Maxwell Klu, undertook a tour of the Western Region to engage key stakeholders on the project.
Prior to the regional tour, he held a high-level meeting in Accra with officials of the Water Resources Commission, led by the Head of Agency, Dr Mawuli, to explore areas of collaboration on water protection and surveillance.
The discussions, he explained, focused on aligning national water resource management efforts with the commission’s technological interventions to ensure effective monitoring of water bodies threatened by illegal mining.
As part of the regional engagements, Mr Klu paid a courtesy call on the Western Regional Minister, where discussions centred on government’s commitment to deploying advanced technology to protect water resources and strengthen enforcement against illegal mining.
The meeting, which was attended by District Chief Executives in the region at the Minister’s residence, highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration in ensuring the success of the pilot project.
Mr Klu and his delegation also visited the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Assembly, where they met the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Ebenezer Cobbinah, and engaged the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsuaem, Mr Taylor Salifu Issah.
The discussions underscored the critical role of political leadership in supporting the commission’s efforts to deploy modern technology in tackling illegal mining.
At the Tarkwa District Office of the commission, Mr Klu briefed staff on the objectives of the project and urged them to adequately prepare to support its implementation.
He noted that the office would serve as a key operational hub for the initiative and assured staff of the full backing of the head office during the implementation phase.
The delegation later visited Bonsa, where they met the Kontihene, Nana Kwadwo Amankwah, Nana Mensah Atakwah III of Bonsa Number Two, and elders of the area.
The traditional authorities, he said, welcomed the initiative and expressed their support for efforts to protect water bodies and preserve the environment from the destructive effects of illegal mining.
At the Bonsa site, where the drones were piloted, the team was received by the Water Safety Manager, Mr Edgar Klottey. Also present was Ms Priscilla Adjoa Agyeman of the Ankobrah Basin Office of the Water Resources Commission.
At the Nkruful District Office, Mr Klu held a sensitisation meeting with staff and urged them to demonstrate discipline, humility and productivity to ensure the success of the programme.
The staff, in response, expressed appreciation for the visit and gave an assurance of their readiness to support the implementation of the pilot drone surveillance project.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE
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