- excavators imported in 2024, raises concerns about illegal mining
- Small-scale mining licenses to be issued at the district level
- Seized excavators will be used for road construction
In 2024, Ghana imported GH₵ 6.2 billion worth of excavators, making it the third-largest item in the country’s import bill, according to Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah. He expressed concern that these excavators may have been used in illegal mining activities and urged the Ministry of Transport and the Driver and Vehicles Licensing Authority (DVLA) to work together to regulate their import.
The Minister also announced a ban on floating platforms, commonly known as “Changfans,” which are often used by illegal miners on rivers. During a news conference in Accra on Wednesday, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah suggested that from now on, small-scale mining licenses should be issued at the district level with active involvement from District Security Command and local mining committees to verify applicants’ documents.
This announcement follows an interim report from an 18-member government committee formed last month to review the mining licensing system and create a strategy to combat illegal mining. The Minister revealed that over the past two months, the military task force had seized 60 excavators, which are now under the care of the Regional Ministers. Instead of destroying the excavators, the Minister stated that they would be repurposed for road construction.
Additionally, the government has recovered seven out of nine forest reserves previously occupied by illegal miners. The Minister mentioned plans to amend the legislative instrument L.I 2462 to ban mining in forest reserves and remove the President’s authority to grant mining licenses in these areas.
