Ghana to Track Excavators to Curb Illegal Mining

Ghanaian President Confirms Plan to Track Excavators to Combat Illegal Mining ACCRA, GHANA – President John Mahama addressed the Global Mining Summit in Accra today, confirming the government's commitment to tackling illegal mining through the implementation of a comprehensive excavator tracking system. This initiative, previously alluded to by Sammy Gyamfi, aims to ensure that excavators are used only for legal and responsible mining activities. "We will track excavators to know whether they are being used for illegal mining or not," President Mahama stated, emphasizing the government's commitment to environmental protection. The plan also includes the reclamation of degraded forest reserves and the restoration of polluted water bodies. The government has already successfully cleared illegal mining operations from eight out of nine forest reserves in the Nogo zone. The government's initiative is a significant step towards addressing the widespread problem of illegal mining in Ghana. The scale of the problem is immense, with Ghana having more excavators than the rest of Africa combined. The new permitting regime will require permits before excavators can be imported or shipped into the country. This stringent measure is intended to curb illegal activities and promote sustainable mining practices. This decisive action demonstrates the government's commitment to responsible resource management and environmental protection, signaling a positive step towards a more sustainable future for Ghana's mining industry.