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| A drone in operation at the Trade Fair Centre at La. |
An
unmanned aerial vehicle popularly called a “drone” is in deployment in Ghana
for what some say is for civilian purposes.
Whilst
others hail the presence of a drone in Ghana as a technological breakthrough,
several others have condemned the use of the aerial vehicle as a violation of
the aviation laws of Ghana.
According to them, because of
the wide ranging activities that can be undertaken by the help of the drone, laws
must be put in place to guide their use.
In
the United States of America, for instance, Federal Aviation Authority
guidelines demand that drones and other model
aircraft must stay less than 400 feet above the ground and not within 3 miles
of an airport.
Steering
a drone over someone's house and property could be considered a trespassing
violation.
A
drone was recently found in the skies of the Trade Fair Centre at La, taking pictures
and videos of the official handover of some sanitation equipment from the
Zoomlion Company Limited to the government of Ghana.
The
event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, members of the Ghanaian
opposition, sanitation operatives and some traditional leaders.
In
Europe and in some parts of North America, drones are deployed for live
telecast of football matches, for shooting videos and for other domestic and
civilian purposes.
However,
the drone has also been used to commit some atrocious crimes and brutalities
never seen before in human history.
In
the Zionist state of Israel, the secret service, Mossad, employs the drone as a
weapon in the slaughter of Palestinian women and children.
In
Saudi Arabia, the drone is used to spy on critics of government and to muscle
down popular protest against the dictatorship.
In
Afghanistan, Pakistan and in Iraq, civilian populations in their thousands has
been killed by the drone in the US led war against terrorism. This war has only
brought more misery to the Middle East and made it in many places unfit for
human habitation.
On
an even more serious note, campaigners against narcotic drugs are worried and
disgusted at the insurmountable evidence that suggests an increase in the
number of opium farms across Afghanistan in spite of the use of the drone in
the monitoring of these activities. Currently, Afghanistan leads in the
cultivation, processing and in the trade of opium across the world.
In
the United States of America, the Bush and Obama administrations are facing
legal tussles in court over the deployment of drones for unapproved
surveillance of civilians in unjustifiable violation of the privacy of many
citizens.
Whilst
the drone can be considered to have become a part of technological advancement
in human life, it must be deemed appropriate that a legal framework that govern
the use of such aerial vehicles are put in place to check against abuse.
Drones
in Ghana, how interesting?
Editorial
IVOR’S MAGIC
The
magic of Ivor Greenstreet, the newly elected Presidential candidate of the
Conventions Peoples Party (CPP) is beginning to shine in many ways.
Somehow Ivor has managed to dominate the front pages and the
airwaves for more than one week.
On a trip to Akropong last week Wednesday, Ivor was
virtually mobbed by young persons who are inspired by him.
Within the CPP itself, many old guards who felt neglected
and abandoned are already feeling welcomed and have begun organizing.
From all indications
the magic of Ivor Greenstreet is working and hopefully the CPP will do far
better in the 2016 elections than it was done in previous years.
Viva Ivor!
