NPP failed to monitor excavators, but things have changed under Armah-Kofi Buah – Lands Ministry spokesperson

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in Ghana has implemented stricter controls on excavators imported into the country to curb their diversion into illegal mining activities, according to the Ministry's Media Relations Officer, Paa Kwesi Schandorf. Between 2017 and 2024, excavators could enter the country without robust regulatory oversight, which the spokesperson described as a major weakness in efforts to control equipment used in illegal mining.

With the current administration led by Lands Minister Felix Armah-Kofi Buah, new approval requirements and GPS tracking systems have been introduced to monitor excavators and prevent their diversion to unauthorized mining sites. Schandorf noted that excavators are among the key tools responsible for environmental destruction during illegal mining, making their regulation critical.

Comparing the administrations, Schandorf highlighted the absence of a robust system to supervise excavator importation and deployment between 2017 and 2024, contrasting it with the current oversight measures. Prospective importers must now obtain clearance from both the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, proving they are legally recognized small-scale miners and justifying the use of the equipment.

Additionally, approved excavators are fitted with GPS tracking devices to monitor their movements and prevent diversion to unauthorized mining locations. As of now, approximately 1,300 excavators are under this monitoring system.

Between 5,000 and 6,000 excavators have been impounded by the authorities due to the lack of satisfactory justification for their importation, according to Schandorf. This represents a significant increase from the previous administration's lax oversight, which allowed thousands of excavators to enter mining communities without adequate checks.

Schandorf emphasized that without the current approval and monitoring arrangements, the environmental consequences could have been severe, potentially affecting water bodies, forest reserves, and other natural resources.