Ghana imported GH₵6.2bn worth of excavators in 2024

In 2024, Ghana imported a staggering GH₵6.2 billion worth of excavators, making it the third-largest contributor to the country’s import bill. The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, raised concerns that many of these excavators may have been diverted to illegal mining activities.

Speaking at a news conference in Accra on Wednesday, the Minister urged the Ministry of Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to collaborate in regulating the importation and use of excavators to curb their involvement in illegal mining operations.

Ban on floating mining platforms
As part of efforts to combat illegal mining, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah announced an immediate ban on all floating platforms, commonly known as “Changfans,” which are predominantly used for illegal mining on rivers and other water bodies.

Decentralized licensing and security oversight
The Minister further proposed that the issuance of small-scale mining licenses should be decentralized to the district level. Under this new approach, the District Security Command and district mining committees would actively vet applications to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements before granting licenses.
This decision follows recommendations from an interim report by an 18-member Working Committee tasked with reviewing Ghana’s mining licensing regime and developing a comprehensive strategy to combat illegal mining.

Seizure and reallocation of excavators
The Minister disclosed that, within the past two months, a military taskforce had seized 60 excavators being used for illegal mining activities.
These excavators are currently under the custody of Regional Ministers. Rather than destroying them, the government intends to repurpose the machinery for road construction projects.

Reclaiming forest reserves and legal reforms
Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah also revealed that the government had successfully reclaimed seven out of the nine forest reserves previously captured by illegal miners.
To further safeguard the nation’s forests, he announced plans to amend Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462 to prohibit mining in forest reserves.
The proposed amendment would also remove the President’s power to grant mining licenses for forest reserves, reinforcing the government’s commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable mining practices.