The Ghanaian government has taken a decisive step to combat illegal mining, commonly known as ‘galamsey,’ by initiating a comprehensive tracking system for excavators. This move, spearheaded by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, aims to curb the rampant use of these machines in unauthorized mining activities that have devastated the country’s landscapes and water bodies.
The initiative involves a multi-agency approach, collaborating with the Ministry of Transport, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Minerals Commission, and the Forestry Commission. Trained enforcement officers will be stationed at ports to tag and track all incoming excavators, while a dedicated team will tag existing ones, starting from Accra. This dual-pronged strategy underscores the government’s commitment to tackling the issue from both ends.
Mr. Buah revealed that the recruitment process for these officers is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of April 2025. The tagging process will be accompanied by the installation of trackers on the excavators to ensure they remain within designated concession areas. This technological intervention is a significant escalation in the fight against galamsey, leveraging modern tools to enforce regulations.
The government’s resolve to deploy technology is evident in the geo-fencing of all legal small-scale mining concessions. The coordinates of each concession have been integrated into the Ghana Mine Repository and Tracking software at the Minerals Commission. This software pairs each excavator with a licensed concession, allowing for real-time monitoring and control. If an excavator strays beyond its designated area, it can be remotely immobilised, sending a clear message to would-be offenders.
Moreover, all forest reserves and water bodies are set to be electronically geo-fenced and monitored in real-time. Any tracked excavator entering these protected areas will be immobilised, and the military will be alerted to dispatch a task force. This proactive approach aims to safeguard Ghana’s natural resources and ecosystems from the destructive impact of illegal mining.
However, the challenge persists. Despite previous attempts to track excavators, a significant number remain unregistered and untracked. Mr. Buah acknowledged that currently, only 70 excavators are being monitored with tags and geo-fencing technology. This highlights the scale of the problem and the urgency of the government’s new initiative.
Daryl Bosu, Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, a non-profit environmental organisation, praised the move, describing it as one of the best approaches to dealing with the galamsey scourge. “This move is a very important aspect of compliance and the government should go ahead and do it; it should not be another talk shop,” he stated, emphasizing the need for action over rhetoric.
This news shapes the development in the mining sector by setting a precedent for technological enforcement. It challenges the norm of relying solely on manual inspections and penalties, instead embracing real-time monitoring and automated controls. This shift could spark a debate on the balance between technological intrusion and environmental protection, as well as the potential for similar systems to be applied to other sectors facing regulatory challenges.
The government’s initiative also raises questions about the effectiveness of previous measures and the need for continuous innovation in the fight against illegal mining. It underscores the importance of collaboration between different state agencies and the private sector in addressing complex environmental issues. As the recruitment process for enforcement officers progresses, the sector will be watching closely to see how this new system unfolds and whether it can truly turn the tide against galamsey.
