Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has disclosed that the government has seized a total of 500 excavators from illegal mining sites across the country as part of intensified efforts to combat galamsey and restore environmental integrity.
Responding to questions on the floor of Parliament, the Minister further revealed that an additional 490 excavators have been impounded at the Tema Port and are currently awaiting clearance under stricter regulatory processes.
He assured the House that all confiscated equipment has been properly accounted for, stressing that no seized excavator is missing.
According to him, the Ministry maintains a comprehensive database detailing the location and status of every confiscated machine, a move aimed at enhancing transparency and preventing diversion.
Mr. Buah indicated that the government had also rolled out a National Excavator Tracking System in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), and the Minerals Commission to regulate the importation, registration and operational use of excavators nationwide.
He said the system features a centralised national dashboard, geo-fencing capabilities, real-time alerts and enforcement support mechanisms designed to strengthen oversight within the mining sector.
The Minister pointed out that it additionally introduced an import restriction regime that requires multiple layers of approval before earth-moving equipment can enter the country.
Under the new arrangement, Mr. Buah said prospective importers must first secure a permit from the Ministry of Transport. Upon arrival at the port, the DVLA undertakes registration of the equipment prior to clearance, after which the Minerals Commission installs tracking devices before the excavators are released.
The Minister disclosed that the government had procured and deployed more than 1,000 digital tracking devices to monitor excavators and other mining machinery in line with the Minerals and Mining (Mineral Operations–Tracking of Earth Moving and Mining Equipment) Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2404).
He said the technology-driven intervention is already improving real-time monitoring, boosting accountability and enhancing regulatory compliance.
Manganese Refinery
Meanwhile, Mr. Buah also informed Parliament that the Ministry is reviewing a proposal by Ghana Manganese Company Limited to establish a manganese refinery in the country to promote value addition within the sector.
He explained that although the proposal outlines technical design, investment estimates and expected economic benefits, the company has requested government facilitation including tax exemptions, reduced port charges and competitive gas supply to make the project viable.
He stated that a Technical Committee comprising key stakeholder institutions had therefore been constituted to assess the proposal, with a series of engagements already held.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House