Galamsey: Akufo-Addo's gov't imported GH¢6.2 billion worth of excavators in 2024 – Land Minister

In 2024, Ghana imported excavators worth GHS 6.2 billion, making them the third-largest import item, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has revealed.

The Minister expressed concern that many of these excavators may have been diverted to illegal mining sites, urging the Ministry of Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to collaborate on regulating their importation.

As part of efforts to curb illegal mining, the government has also banned all floating platforms, commonly known as Changfans, which are widely used by illegal miners on water bodies.

Speaking at a news conference in Accra on Wednesday, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah announced that small-scale mining licenses will now be issued at the district level. This process will involve the District Security Command and district mining committees, who will vet applications to ensure proper documentation.

The move follows recommendations from an 18-member Working Committee set up last month to review the mining licensing regime and propose strategies to combat illegal mining.

The Minister also disclosed that a military task force has seized 60 excavators over the past two months. These machines, currently in the custody of Regional Ministers, will be repurposed for road construction rather than being destroyed.

Additionally, the government has reclaimed seven out of nine forest reserves that had been taken over by illegal miners. Plans are underway to amend Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462 to ban mining in forest reserves entirely.

This amendment, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah explained, will also strip the President of the authority to grant mining licenses for operations in forest reserves, reinforcing the government’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s natural resources.