AT least 1,200 excavators have been impounded at the Tema port pending validation and once cleared, these excavators will be enrolled on the Minerals Commission’s GPS tracking system for real-time monitoring.
A pilot project is already tracking 191 excavators in the Minerals Commission’s dedicated control room.
“The development of a centralised digital platform, the Ghana Mine Repository and Tracking Software, is at an advanced stage. This platform will serve as the single point of integration for all relevant agencies, including Ministry of Finance (GRA-Customs Division).”
This came to light when the Minister of Lands and Forestry, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, took his turn at the Government Accountability Series last Wednesday.
The Minister revealed that all nine critical forest reserves, previously seized by armed illegal miners, have been successfully reclaimed and were no longer under illegal occupation.
“Within forest reserves alone, over 5,500 hectares (equivalent to 7,500 football fields) have been degraded. I am pleased to announce that, in collaboration with the law enforcement agencies, the Forestry Commission has successfully repossessed all nine red-zoned forest reserves previously occupied by armed gangs protecting illegal miners,” the Minister stated.
On the Tree-for –Life initiative, the minister said the current progress reports indicated that as of mid-July 2025, approximately 7.6 million seedlings (25 per cent of the target) have been successfully distributed and planted nationwide. Notably, the private sector has contributed significantly to these efforts, accounting for 2.3 million of the planted seedlings.
He added that the Blue Water Initiative within its first 120 days to address water pollution from illegal mining activities had trained and deployed over 980 personnel to date. The initiative remains on track to achieve its target of 2,000 trained personnel by the end of the year.
The Minister also announced ongoing legislative and policy reforms, which are 85 per cent complete, to sanitise the mining sector.
These include amendments to the Minerals and Mining Act (2006, Act 703) and the Minerals and Mining Policy (2014). Key changes include reduce the duration of prospecting licenses from perpetuity to a defined minimal period, shorten mining leases from 30 years to a more limited term, and abolishing development agreement and enforcing Community Development Agreement.
He added that through joint operations with the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Armed Forces, and National Security Secretariat, authorities have seized 425 excavators and other machinery, 4 bulldozers, 12 vehicles, 43 motorcycles, 155 pumping machines, 184 changfangs, 15 detector machines, and 10 heavy-duty generators in forest reserves alone.
So far the security agencies have made 1,345 arrests, with prosecutions underway.
Additionally, 279 trucks conveying illegal lumber were intercepted, fined, and the illegal wood, confiscated and auctioned.
The Minister emphasised that the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) remains the sole coordinating body for all anti-galamsey operations.
He said the government would soon launch the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (RCOMSDEP) to provide alternative livelihoods in mining communities.
BY TIMES REPORTER
