Ghana has intensified its battle against illegal mining through sweeping reforms and enforcement operations aimed at restoring order and transparency within the country’s mining sector.
At a press briefing during the Government Accountability Series on July 23, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, outlined a series of bold steps taken by the government to curb environmental degradation and illegal practices in both small- and large-scale mining operations.
A significant part of the clampdown began with the revocation of 55 small-scale mining licences that had been issued during the transitional period, a move Minister Buah said was necessary to clean up the sector.
Additionally, 907 of the 1,278 active small-scale licences are currently under review for potential cancellation due to various irregularities uncovered by regulatory authorities.
“Similar exercise is currently ongoing to review large-scale mining alliances to ensure compliance. These measures are all aimed at sanitizing the mining sector to ensure transparency and sustainable operations in collaboration with other agencies, including the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the National Security Secretariat.
“And I must say that I’ve had full cooperation from our previous sector ministries, and I want to take the opportunity to thank them for their cooperation, including the attorney general.”
Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah
In terms of enforcement, data presented by the Ministry paints a vivid picture of the crackdown’s scale.
Nationwide, authorities have seized 425 excavators and other heavy machinery suspected to be involved in illegal mining activities.
A total of 1,345 individuals have been arrested since the beginning of the operation, with ongoing prosecutions being managed by the Attorney General’s department.
The Minister also zoomed in on the Forestry Commission’s contribution to the operation, offering specific data on seizures within Ghana’s forest reserves.
These include 177 excavators, 4 bulldozers, 12 vehicles, 43 motorcycles, 155 pumping machines, 184 chamfans, 15 gold detector machines, and 10 heavy-duty generators.
He further noted that 286 individuals were apprehended in connection with forest reserve violations.
Anti-Galamsey Operations Secretariat Launched To Counter Illegal Mining
Hon. Kofi Buah also revealed that to enhance coordination among security and regulatory agencies, the government has established a National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat.
This secretariat serves as the strategic hub for Ghana’s war on illegal mining, integrating environmental, legal, and security components into a unified national response.
“As the operational nerve center for Ghana’s fight against illegal small-scale mining and its associated environmental degradation, particularly in water bodies and forest reserves, it embodies Ghana’s coordinated response to the scourge of illegal mining, integrating security, environmental, and legal responses into a unified operational strategy.”
Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah
Technological innovation is also playing a major role in the current anti-illegal mining strategy.
Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Finance, GRA Customs Division, and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Lands Ministry has introduced proactive tracking systems for all imports of excavators and earth-moving machinery.
So far, 200 excavators have been impounded at the ports pending verification of their intended use. These actions are intended to prevent unregistered machinery from entering illegal mining sites.
As part of a digital modernization drive, the Ministry has launched the Ghana Mine Repository and Tracking Software, managed by the Minerals Commission.
The platform serves as a centralized data point integrating information from key institutions including the DVLA, Customs, the Ministry of Transport, and National Security.
“A pilot project of over 191 excavators is currently being tracked in the dedicated control room of the Minerals Commission. This is very innovative and new. As you know, we are now able to track the excavators before they even set off to come to Ghana.”
Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah
He further explained that through geofencing and geotracking technology, the government can now monitor excavator movements in real time, helping prevent their diversion to unauthorized mining sites.
These tracking efforts are being implemented in line with Legislative Instrument (LI) 2404, which mandates the registration and real-time monitoring of all earth-moving equipment used in mining operations.
By enforcing this law, the government hopes to ensure that all mining machinery is confined to areas for which permits have been issued.
He mentioned that the excavators are now being monitored through the geofencing and geotracking control room set up by the Minerals Commission. “And we believe that we are going to get to that point where every movement of an excavator in this country is actually regulated,” the Minister noted.
As Ghana grapples with the complex challenges of illegal mining, these multi-layered measures reflect a more aggressive and technologically empowered stance aimed at protecting the nation’s lands and water bodies while preserving the livelihoods dependent on responsible mining.
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