Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has confirmed that 500 excavators seized from illegal mining operations nationwide are fully accounted for, with 490 currently impounded at the Tema Port pending clearance and administrative processing.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on February 26, Mr Buah dismissed claims that any seized machinery was missing, assuring lawmakers all equipment remains in state custody amid the crackdown on illegal mining.

He emphasised the scale of enforcement, stating, “Since my adoption of office, a total of 500 excavators have been seized at various illegal mining sites across the country.”

The minister categorically rejected reports suggesting that some seized excavators could not be traced, insisting that officials know the location of every piece of equipment.

“I wish to state categorically that no seized excavator is missing or unaccounted for,” he stressed.

He added that the ministry maintains comprehensive records on all confiscated equipment.

Beyond the seizures, Mr Buah outlined a series of technology-driven interventions aimed at tightening control over the importation and use of excavators and other earth-moving equipment.

“In furtherance of efforts to regulate the importation and use of excavators, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), and the Minerals Commission, has rolled out a national excavator tracking system,” he explained.

According to him, the system features a centralised national dashboard, geofencing capabilities, real-time alerts, and enforcement support mechanisms to enhance oversight.

He noted that the new framework also introduces an import restriction regime that establishes multiple layers of approval before earth-moving equipment can enter the country.

“To import an excavator, an importer must first obtain an approval or permit from the Ministry of Transport. Upon arrival at the port, the DVLA registers the excavator before clearance. Thereafter, the Minerals Commission installs a tracking device on the equipment prior to release from the port,” he detailed.

The Minister disclosed that the government has procured and deployed more than 1,000 digital tracking devices to monitor and regulate the movement and use of excavators and other mining equipment nationwide.

The initiative, he said, is being implemented in accordance with the Minerals Operation Tracking of Earth-Moving and Mining Equipment Regulations (LI 2404) and is designed to enhance real-time monitoring, improve transparency, and strengthen accountability within the mining sector.