Ghana imported a staggering GH₵6.2 billion worth of excavators in 2024, ranking third in the country’s import bill. This revelation, made by Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has raised concerns about the potential use of these excavators in illegal mining activities.

To combat this issue, the Minister has called for increased collaboration between the Ministry of Transport and the Driver and Vehicles Licensing Authority (DVLA) to regulate the importation of excavators. Furthermore, the government has announced a ban on floating platforms, known as “Changfans,” which are often used by illegal miners on rivers.

In an effort to curb illegal mining, the government plans to decentralize the issuance of small-scale mining licenses to the district level. This move aims to increase transparency and accountability, with the involvement of District Security Command and district mining committees in the vetting process.

The government has already taken steps to address the issue, seizing 60 excavators in the past two months. Instead of destroying these excavators, they will be repurposed for road construction. Additionally, the government has recovered seven out of nine forest reserves that were previously taken over by illegal miners.

To further strengthen regulations, the government plans to amend the legislative instrument L.I 2462, prohibiting mining in forest reserves and removing the President’s power to grant mining licenses in these areas.