Why is the state ignoring technology in the fight against galamsey? – Barker-Vormawor quizzes

Ghanaian lawyer and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has questioned the government’s commitment to fighting illegal mining, arguing that drones could be an effective tool in tracking and stopping galamsey activities.

In a post on Facebook, he asked:

“So if we can use drones to deliver blood, we can’t use drones to track and fight Galamsey?”

This statement points to the contradictions in Ghana’s use of technology—embracing drones for healthcare advancements while failing to deploy them in tackling one of the biggest environmental crises in the country.

Globally, drones have been used for environmental monitoring, law enforcement, and disaster response.Countries like Brazil and Indonesia have deployed drones to track illegal logging and mining activities, helping authorities respond swiftly.

Ghana, however, continues to struggle with illegal mining despite having the resources to implement high-tech solutions.

Barker-Vormawor highlighted how journalists like Erastus Asare Donkorhave exposed galamsey sites using basic drones, while government institutions with massive budgets have done little to tackle the problem.

“The images we get from Erastus using cheap drones, should be coming from State Agencies whose budget is 300 million more than the 500 cedis he uses.”

This exposes a glaring inefficiency in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining. If investigative journalists can reveal the extent of the problem with limited resources, why is the state unable to act decisively despite having access to better technology?

The fight against galamsey has been marred by corruption and political interference, leading many to believe that some authorities are deliberately ignoring solutions that could put an end to the crisis.

Barker-Vormawor’s statement challenges the government to take responsibility and invest in effective solutions. Instead of targeting activists and critics, he argues that the state should focus on protecting the environment for future generations.

“The country is not invested in our well-being. But you will fight me instead of fighting for our environment!”

His remarks are a call to action—will the government embrace technology and act decisively, or will illegal mining continue to destroy Ghana’s water bodies and forests?