The government has impounded 1,200 excavators at the Tema Port, pending validation, as part of a new initiative to monitor the importation and use of earth-moving equipment in the country.
According to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, the initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance (GRA–Customs Division), and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.
The goal, he explained, is to strengthen oversight at the point of entry and prevent the misuse of such machinery, especially in illegal mining activities.
Speaking during the Government Accountability Series at the Presidency on Wednesday July 23, 2025, the Minister stated that, to support this effort, the Minerals Commission has developed a centralized digital platform known as the Ghana Mine Repository and Tracking Software, which is now at an advanced stage of deployment.
He said the platform will serve as a single point of integration for key agencies including Customs, DVLA, the Ministry of Transport, the Minerals Commission, National Security, and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
The system will provide real-time data on equipment registration, location, and permit history, helping authorities ensure transparency, eliminate duplication, and enforce compliance with mining regulations.
Currently, a pilot project tracking over 191 excavators is underway at the Minerals Commission’s dedicated control room.
The tracking system is anchored on the Minerals and Mining (Mineral Operations – Tracking of Earth Moving and Mining Equipment) Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2404), which requires all earth-moving and mining equipment to be registered and tracked in real time.
Mr. Buah noted that the introduction of the tracking software is a key step in ensuring that equipment imported into the country is used only for legal mining operations and within approved mining concessions.
