GH₵6.2 Billion Worth Of Mining Excavators Imported Last Year; ranking third On Ghana’s Import Bill--Lands Minister Reveals

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Honourable Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has expressed worry about the surge in mining excavator imports suspecting their diversion to illegal mining sites in the mining prone communities of the country.

According to him, GH₵6.2 billion worth of excavators were imported last year, ranking third on Ghana’s import bill. 

The sector minister urged the Ministry of Transport and The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to regulate such imports.

Honourable Armah-Kofi Buah disclosed this at the press conference today to announce the government’s decision to revoke all existing community small-scale mining licenses to eliminate hazardous mining practices.  

The minister revealed that licenses issued since December 7th, 2024, have been revoked. He emphasized that the move aims to restore order in the mining sector and combat illegal small-scale mining (galamsey).  

Joined by the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Honourable Buah explained the decision followed recommendations from a government-established committee. 

The committee found that existing Community Mining Schemes failed to benefit local communities as intended, prompting their replacement with Small-Scale Cooperatives. These cooperatives will undergo rigorous due diligence to ensure genuine community representation.  

The minister further announced a Technical Small-Scale Mining Review Committee, tasked with auditing all licenses to verify compliance with environmental, financial, and regulatory standards.

 Chaired by Deputy Minister Yusif Sulemana, the committee includes representatives from the Minerals Commission, EPA, Water Resources Commission, Forestry Commission, and the Attorney General’s office. Licensees must submit documentation for review within two months or face revocation.  

Additionally, the government plans to reclassify mining operations into small, medium, and large Scale categories.  

Addressing the surge in excavator imports, Honourable Buah disclosed that GH₵6.2 billion worth of excavators were imported last year, ranking third on Ghana’s import bill. 

He urged the Ministry of Transport and DVLA to regulate such imports, suspecting their diversion to illegal mining sites.  

For his part, Dr. Muhammed proposed stricter security measures, including tracking devices on excavators to monitor their use.  

The reforms underscore the government’s resolve to enforce sustainable mining practices while safeguarding natural resources.

Pix: Attached