Credit: Kekeli K. Blamey
The Government of Ghana has intensified efforts to regulate the importation and deployment of heavy-duty mining equipment, with the impoundment of 1,200 excavators at the Tema Port.
This measure forms part of a broader strategy to combat illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who disclosed this development during a sector briefing on Wednesday, July 23, indicated that the excavators are currently undergoing a thorough validation process prior to any clearance.
The new protocol is part of a tracking and monitoring initiative aimed at preventing the misuse of earth-moving equipment in unauthorized mining operations.
“The Ministry, in collaboration with key government agencies, has placed 1,200 excavators under hold at the Tema Port. These machines are being validated in accordance with new regulatory measures designed to ensure that imported equipment is used only for lawful purposes,” the Minister stated.
The initiative is being implemented through enhanced inter-agency coordination involving the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Transport, the Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division), and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.
The collaborative effort aims to strengthen oversight mechanisms at the country’s ports of entry.
This regulatory intervention is also being executed under the framework of the newly established National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
Described by the Minister as the “operational nerve centre” for Ghana’s anti-galamsey campaign, NAIMOS is mandated to harmonize legal, security, and environmental strategies to tackle the menace of illegal mining.
“NAIMOS represents a strategic shift in our national response to illegal mining. Through it, the government is ensuring a more coordinated and sustained enforcement regime across all levels of the mining value chain,” Mr. Buah added.
The impoundment of the excavators underscores the government’s commitment to reforming the small-scale mining sector and safeguarding the country’s natural resources from the adverse impacts of illegal mining activities.
