Ghana Cracks Down on Illegal Mining with Strict Excavator Import Policy

Ghana's President Mahama Unveils Strict New Policy on Excavator Imports to Combat Illegal Mining Accra, Ghana – President John Mahama announced a significant policy shift at the Mining in Motion summit in Accra today, targeting the rampant issue of illegal mining. The new policy will strictly regulate the importation of excavators into the country. This move comes in response to the overwhelming number of excavators currently in Ghana, far exceeding those in the rest of Africa, which has fueled widespread environmental damage and illegal mining activities. "Ghana has more excavators than the whole of Africa," President Mahama stated, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. The government aims to reclaim degraded forest reserves and restore the purity of water bodies polluted by illegal mining operations. The new permitting regime will ensure that excavators are used for legitimate purposes only. The government is also working with the small-scale mining sector to find sustainable solutions. River guards are actively clearing mining activities from water bodies and riverbanks. The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has confirmed that eight out of nine no-go zones have been successfully cleared of illegal miners. This new policy represents a significant step towards environmental protection and sustainable mining practices in Ghana. The strict regulations on excavator imports, combined with ongoing efforts to reclaim damaged areas and work with the small-scale mining sector, signify a commitment to responsible resource management and environmental preservation.