Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, says 1,200 excavators have been impounded at the Tema Port and are awaiting validation before clearance.

The action forms part of Ghana’s efforts to control the inflow and use of earth-moving equipment in the fight against illegal small-scale mining.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, July 23, the Minister said, “In collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance (GRA-Customs Division), and the Ports and Harbours Authority, we have initiated a proactive tracking of all imports of excavators and earth-moving equipment from the point of entry. So far, 1,200 excavators have been impounded pending validation before clearance at the Tema Port.”

The minister explained that the clampdown forms part of a broader national strategy to tackle environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, especially in water bodies and forest reserves.

He announced the deployment of a new centralised digital system aimed at monitoring mining machinery across the country.

“The Ghana Mine Repository and Tracking Software has been deployed by the Minerals Commission and is at an advanced stage to support this initiative,” he said.

“The platform will serve as the single point of integration for all agencies, including Customs, DVLA, the Ministry of Transport, the Minerals Commission, National Security, and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat.”

He added, “This system will ensure transparency, prevent duplication, and provide authorised institutions with real-time access to permit history, equipment location, and operational compliance.”

According to the Lands Minister, the pilot phase is already underway. “A pilot project of over 191 excavators is currently being tracked in the dedicated control room of the Minerals Commission,” he said. This project is anchored on the Minerals and Mining (Mineral Operations Tracking of Earth Moving and Mining Equipment) Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2404), which makes it mandatory to register all equipment intended for mining use.

“These regulations ensure that machinery and equipment are tracked in real time and used only in mining areas for which they have been registered,” the minister stated.

The Minister also highlighted the work of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), which he described as “the operational nerve-centre for Ghana’s fight against illegal small-scale mining and its associated environmental degradation.” NAIMOS, he said, integrates the country’s security, environmental, and legal responses into a unified strategy.

The Government Accountability Series provides a platform for sector ministers to present mid-year updates and preliminary assessments of the government’s performance, as part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability.