By: Ashiadey Dotse
The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Murtala Mohammed has revealed that government plans to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor and manage Ghana’s forest areas in real time to help stop illegal mining activities.
In an interview on GTV’s Breakfast Show, the Minister said the new technology will allow authorities to detect any activity happening in any part of the forest without physically being there.
“We want to deploy AI so that we can zone the entire forest areas in Ghana. That way, you can sit and see if there’s any illegal activity going on anywhere,” he explained.
This move is part of a broader strategy to combat illegal mining—commonly known as galamsey—which has become a serious threat to Ghana’s environment, farmlands, and water bodies. The Minister expressed deep concern about how illegal miners, including some foreign nationals, are destroying the land and using dangerous chemicals like mercury, which can pollute cocoa farms.
“Cocoa is one of our biggest sources of foreign exchange. If these chemicals enter our cocoa farms, it could damage our reputation and lead to blacklisting on international markets,” she warned.
He also spoke about the increasing danger faced by forest guards, noting that some illegal miners are armed and willing to kill. “This is no longer just an environmental issue. It is now a security and diplomatic problem,” He added.
The Minister revealed that nine forest reserves had been overtaken by heavily armed illegal miners, but they have since been cleared thanks to intelligence and security operations. However, he admitted that illegal miners often return or move to new locations, which makes constant surveillance very difficult.
That’s why the government is turning to AI. With this technology, they hope to track illegal activities across the country’s forests in real time and alert security forces immediately when needed.
He also called for stronger involvement of traditional and religious leaders in the fight, saying their support is crucial to protecting the environment and the future of Ghana.
