The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has revealed that excavator imports ranked as Ghana’s third-largest import in 2024, amounting to GHC6.2 billion.
He made this disclosure on Wednesday, March 19, while providing an update on the committee’s findings regarding small-scale mining license reviews.
Highlighting the staggering scale of excavator imports, Minister Buah emphasized the urgent need for better regulation and control measures.
He called for stronger coordination among the Ministry of Transport, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), and other key institutions to ensure proper oversight of these heavy-duty machines.
The minister also expressed concern over the rampant use of excavators in illegal mining, particularly in river bodies.
He reiterated the report’s recommendation for a complete ban on the importation and fabrication of floating mining platforms used for operations in water bodies, as part of efforts to curb environmental degradation caused by illegal mining.
The call for stricter controls comes amid ongoing efforts by the government to combat illegal small-scale mining, also known as ‘galamsey,’ which has led to severe environmental damage, particularly to Ghana’s water resources
Source: ghextractives.com