The Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining has urged the government to extend its excavator tracking system nationwide to enhance efforts in curbing illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
This call was made during a visit by the Coalition, alongside environmental NGO A Rocha Ghana, to the Ghana Mine Repository and Tracking Control Centre, which monitors earth-moving equipment within mining concessions.
Speaking at the visit on Wednesday, May 7, the Coalition’s Convenor, Dr. Ken Ashigbey, emphasized that expanding the tracking system would enable security agencies to more effectively detect and prevent illegal mining operations across the country.
“These excavators are not mobile phones you can hide in your pocket,” Dr. Ashigbey stated. “With proper tracking and QR code identification, police should be able to monitor and verify whether equipment is being used lawfully.”
Dr. Ashigbey called on the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission to scale up the initiative, urging more robust measures to crack down on galamsey.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ending mining activities in Ghana’s forest reserves. As part of a broader 120-day action plan to reform the mining sector, President Mahama announced plans to amend the Minerals and Mining Act, 2003 (Act 703), to permanently outlaw mining in protected forest areas.
“Seven out of nine reserves have been reclaimed, and illegal miners have been flushed out,” President Mahama stated, adding that a legislative instrument—L.I. 2462—was presented to Parliament on March 20, 2025, to remove the president’s discretionary power to permit mining in forest reserves.
The proposed reforms also include tougher enforcement measures, collaboration with stakeholders, and the reclamation of degraded lands.
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