One hundred and forty (140) NABCO trainees under the Digitized Ghana Module have successfully completed their five weeks training in drone piloting and are ready to be deployed to the mining communities to help in the fight against illegal mining, galamsey.
The 140 made up of 17 females and 123 males have gone through an initial three weeks theoretical training at the Tarkwa School of Mines and moved on to do two weeks intensive practical/military training at the Asutuare Military Camp of the 64 Infantry brigade.
Addressing the passing out ceremony for the trained drone pilots at the Asutuare Military Camp, the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Hon. Frimpong Boateng said the training of the 140 NABCO applicants as drone pilots to fight the galamsey menace is an indication of government’s seriousness to the fight against illegal mining.
“We are ready to win this fight. We did not go through this exercise to fail, so as we can see these people are ready to compliment the operation Vanguard in the mining areas,” he said.
According to the minister, the drone pilots have acquired all the basic military trainings and are imbibe with discipline and endurance and will deliver as expected of them.
The minister also revealed that about 90 drones will be deployed to all mining areas across the country which will gather data, pictures, videos of activities.
He admonished the drone pilots to put their training to good use and help the country fight the illegal mining menace that have had serious negative consequences on us as a country, with huge and deteriorating effects on our environment and water bodies which is affecting lives.
He said the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is determined to see and bring an end to illegal mining hence the necessary steps and actions are being implemented including GALAMSTOP to bring the situation under control.
Speaking to Dr. Anyars Ibrahim, CEO of the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), he explained that the drone pilots will gather data from the field and transmit the data to a database for appropriate actions.
He said, “When we get those data, we will verify them to ensure that the narratives do not contradict whatever data we may be gathering. And we will be sharing these information with the general public for them to be aware of whatever is going on in these communities as far as galamsey is concern,” he said.
He also charged the drone pilots not to condone with the illegalities and that they have been given all the training for them to be able to deliver so that collectively, citizens can build a better nation.
By: PROSPER AGBENYEGA/Ghanaian Observer