Galamsey: 1200 excavators impounded at Tema Port

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has revealed that 1,200 excavators brought into the country have been impounded at the Tema Port, as part of efforts to curb the illegal use of earth-moving equipment in illegal mining popularly known as galamsey.

Presenting an update on the sector on Wednesday, July 23, the Minister explained that the impounded machinery is currently undergoing validation before clearance, in line with a new tracking initiative aimed at regulating the entry and use of mining equipment across Ghana.

“So far, 1,200 excavators have been impounded pending validation before clearance at the Tema Port,” he said.

Mr. Buah attributed the move to enhanced collaboration between the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Transport, the Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division), and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to enforce tighter controls at the country’s entry points.

This operation forms part of a broader strategy spearheaded by the newly established National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), which the Minister described as the “operational nerve-centre” for Ghana’s ongoing fight against illegal small-scale mining and its associated environmental damage.

“NAIMOS embodies Ghana’s coordinated response to the scourge of illegal mining, integrating security, environmental, and legal responses into a unified operational strategy,” he stated.