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The Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining is calling on the government to expand the excavator tracking system across the country to bolster the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
This appeal was made during a joint visit by the Coalition and A Rocha Ghana to the Ghana Mine Repository and Tracking Control Centre, a facility responsible for monitoring the movement of heavy-duty mining equipment within approved concessions.
Speaking during the visit on Wednesday, May 7, the Coalition’s Convenor, Dr. Ken Ashigbey, stressed the urgent need to scale up the initiative nationwide. According to him, the tracking technology provides a practical solution to monitoring and controlling the movement of excavators used in illegal mining activities.
“These excavators are not mobile phones you can hide in your pocket. With this tracking system, the police will be able to monitor their movements. If an excavator is being used where it shouldn’t be, officers at checkpoints can verify its purpose using the QR code attached to the equipment,” Dr. Ashigbey said.
“We already have the tools to tackle this menace. What remains is the political will to scale up the system nationwide. This is the Coalition’s primary appeal to the Minister and the CEO of the Minerals Commission,” he added.
In a related development, President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated his administration’s commitment to ending mining activities in Ghana’s forest reserves. As part of broader efforts to reform the mining sector, Mahama announced a legislative move to permanently outlaw mining in protected forest areas.
Delivering an update on the achievements of his first 120 days in office, President Mahama outlined a five-point strategy aimed at cleansing and regulating the mining industry. This strategy includes new legal frameworks, stronger enforcement, community collaboration, and land reclamation.
“In our first 120 days, we have taken bold action through a five-point strategy to reform the mining sector. This includes new regulations, active joint task forces, equipment seizures, stakeholder involvement, and the reclamation of degraded lands,” he said.
According to Mahama, efforts have already yielded progress: “Seven out of nine forest reserves affected by illegal mining have been reclaimed, and illegal miners have been cleared from those areas.”
He also announced a legislative change that strips the President of the power to approve mining in forest reserves. “On March 20, 2025, Legislative Instrument L.I. 2462 was laid before Parliament to amend the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulation. This amendment ensures that mining in forest reserves can no longer be authorized by the President,” he stated.
These combined efforts from civil society and government signal a renewed push to protect Ghana’s environment and reform its mining sector for sustainable development.
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