ACCRA, Oct 3 (The African Portal) – Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has warned international shipping companies that they will face sanctions if they import excavators into the country without permits, as part of efforts to clamp down on illegal small-scale mining, known locally as galamsey.
Speaking at a meeting with civil society groups in Accra, Mr Mahama said the government was strictly enforcing regulations requiring permits before heavy machinery can be brought into Ghana.
“We shall penalise you for carrying those excavators into Ghana without a permit,” he said. “Every excavator must be registered with its owner known.”
The president said the measure was aimed at tackling the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, which has led to widespread land degradation, polluted rivers and destroyed forest reserves.
While excavators are also used legitimately by road contractors and quarry operators, Mr Mahama said tighter regulation was needed. He announced plans to introduce electronic monitoring systems to track the movement and use of heavy machinery.
He blamed the worsening problem on a shift from artisanal mining, which relied on basic hand tools, to small-scale operations using bulldozers and excavators. Previous attempts to curb galamsey had failed, he admitted, as miners often returned to cleared areas once security forces withdrew.
The government has now launched a new multi-agency taskforce involving the military, police, and other security bodies to step up enforcement. About 1,000 “blue water guards” have also been recruited to protect rivers such as the Ankobra and to offer alternative livelihoods for young people.
Mr Mahama also announced land reclamation projects using UN-backed methods to restore degraded soils, and said discussions were under way with major mining companies to allocate parts of their concessions to small-scale miners under strict supervision.
He described the fight against illegal mining as “a long journey” requiring persistence and cooperation with civil society, adding: “Your contributions, your criticisms, your pressure… we don’t have any problem with that.”
