Ghana’s First Licensed Drone Pilot Leads Pioneering Airborne Geophysical Survey Training for Minerals Commission of Ghana Using Skyfront Perimeter 8 and Geometrics MagArrow II

Delali Dagodzo delivers Ghana’s first drone-based aeromagnetic survey training program at Afienya Airstrip, equipping 15 geoscience professionals — including female geophysicists and geologists  with cutting-edge UAV mineral exploration capabilities

Delali Dagodzo, the first licensed drone pilot in Ghana and Co-Founder of Skyway UAS, has successfully delivered a landmark training program for the Minerals Commission of Ghana equipping 15 geoscience professionals with the skills to operate the Skyfront Perimeter 8 long-endurance drone integrated with the Geometrics MagArrow II aeromagnetic sensor system for mineral deposit detection.

The training, conducted at Afienya Airstrip in Ghana, represents a significant milestone in the adoption of UAV-based geophysical survey technology across West Africa — bringing world-class airborne magnetic surveying capability directly into the hands of Ghanaian geoscientists.

A Unique Convergence of Technology and Expertise

The Skyfront Perimeter 8 is widely recognized as one of the world’s longest-flying multi-rotor UAV platforms, purpose-built for demanding professional applications. Integrated with the Geometrics MagArrow II — a high-sensitivity, helicopter-grade aeromagnetic sensor system — the combined platform enables precise airborne magnetic surveys for mineral exploration at a fraction of the cost of traditional manned aircraft operations.

Dagodzo is uniquely qualified to deliver this training. He completed his Skyfront UAV system flight certification at Skyfront’s manufacturing facility in California  one of a very small number of professionals globally to receive factory-level certification on this platform. This direct manufacturer training, combined with his 14-year background in geology, remote sensing, and GIS, positioned him as the sole instructor for this program.

The training covered UAV flight operations, payload integration, mission planning for geophysical surveys, data acquisition protocols, and safe operational procedures aligned with Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) regulations.

Breaking Barriers in Geoscience

Among the 15 professionals trained were female geophysicists and geologists a notable achievement in a field where women remain significantly underrepresented. The program’s inclusion of women geoscience professionals aligns with broader national and international goals to advance gender equity in STEM fields, particularly in the extractive and resources sector.

The training drew recognition beyond Ghana’s borders with Skyfront themselves acknowledging and sharing the program on their official LinkedIn platform, highlighting the significance of this deployment for the global UAV geophysics community.

Transforming Mineral Exploration in West Africa

Ghana is one of Africa’s leading gold producers and home to significant deposits of bauxite, manganese, diamonds, and other minerals. Traditional aeromagnetic surveys for mineral exploration have historically relied on expensive manned aircraft operations, placing them out of reach for many exploration programs.

The integration of the Skyfront Perimeter 8 and MagArrow II into Ghana’s Minerals Commission operations represents a paradigm shift  enabling cost-effective, high-resolution airborne magnetic surveys that can identify subsurface geological structures and potential mineral deposits with precision previously unavailable at this price point.

Dagodzo’s background makes him singularly suited to bridge this gap. Holding an MSc in Mineral Exploration from the University of Ghana — where his research focused specifically on satellite-based mineralization mapping using LANDSAT and ASTER imagery — he brings both the geoscience foundation and the UAV technical expertise required to translate raw aeromagnetic data into meaningful exploration intelligence.

A Career at the Intersection of Geoscience and UAV Technology

This training program is the latest milestone in Dagodzo’s career bridging earth sciences and unmanned aerial systems. His broader achievements include:

• Designing and implementing Ghana Grid Company’s (GRIDCo) first national UAV inspection program for high-voltage transmission lines  delivering 60% faster inspections and 40% cost savings
• Authoring GRIDCo’s first UAV Operations Manual and Concept of Operations (CONOPS)
• Training and certifying 33 GRIDCo personnel in drone operations
• Leading LiDAR and aerial survey campaigns across 15,000+ hectares in Ghana and Ivory Coast
• Publishing 12 peer-reviewed papers on UAV infrastructure, GIS, AI, and corridor management
• Founding Skyway UAS and AirStudio Aerial Photogrammetry Ltd
• Completing Factory Acceptance Testing at Skyfront’s California facility for long-endurance UAV systems

Dagodzo is also the author of a published technical book on hydrothermal alteration interpretation of LANDSAT and ASTER data, available on Amazon — further cementing his standing as both a field practitioner and published geoscience authority.

Recognition and Research

Dagodzo’s contributions to UAV and geospatial science have earned him recognition as Editor of the Year (2023) by the Engineering Science & Technology Journal and Reviewer of the Year (2025) by the Gulf Journal of Engineering and Technology. He serves on the editorial boards of four international journals and as peer reviewer for seven publications.

He is a Certified Member of both the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

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“Training the Minerals Commission team on the Skyfront Perimeter 8 and MagArrow II was a defining moment — not just for my career, but for mineral exploration in Ghana. We are putting world-class airborne geophysical survey capability directly into the hands of Ghanaian geoscientists, including women who are breaking new ground in this field. This is what technology transfer looks like in practice.” — Delali Dagodzo

About Delali Dagodzo Delali Dagodzo is a multidisciplinary geologist, UAV specialist, and geospatial professional with over 14 years of experience integrating earth sciences, drone systems, remote sensing, and GIS. He is the first licensed drone pilot in Ghana, Co-Founder of Skyway UAS, Founder of AirStudio Aerial Photogrammetry, and UAV Operations Officer at Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo).

About Skyway UAS Skyway UAS is a Ghana-based commercial UAV operations company providing drone mapping, inspection, and remote sensing solutions for utilities, infrastructure, mining, and environmental monitoring across West Africa.

About the Minerals Commission of Ghana The Minerals Commission of Ghana is the statutory body responsible for the regulation, management, development, and utilization of the mineral resources of Ghana.