Tema Port operation tracks excavators to fight galamsey
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced the launch of a 24-hour joint operation at Tema Port to monitor earth-moving equipment entering the country.
The initiative, undertaken in collaboration with the Minerals Commission and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), aims to register and track all such equipment to curb the growing misuse of excavators in illegal mining operations, popularly known as galamsey.
Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, July 16, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah stated that each piece of equipment entering Ghana will now be fitted with a tamper-proof GPS tracker.
This will allow real-time monitoring by the Minerals Commission, particularly in mining districts.
“To ensure that we have our eyes on every earth-moving and mining equipment as required under LI 2404, each machine is now being fitted with a tamper-proof GPS tracker. Any attempt to tamper with the device will immediately trigger an alert to the operations room,” he said.
The Minister added that dedicated 24-hour offices have been set up by both the DVLA and the Minerals Commission at Tema Port to carry out the registration and monitoring processes without interruption.
He emphasized that the government remains committed to addressing illegal mining and ensuring that mining operations are conducted responsibly and transparently.
In a related development, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah disclosed that the delayed ratification of the Ewoyaa Lithium Agreement is partly due to a sharp decline in global lithium prices.
He further revealed that Barari DV Ghana, the company leading the project, has requested a revision of the initial agreement, which is currently under review.
The Minister assured Parliament that the government remains engaged in negotiations to ensure that Ghana benefits fairly from its natural resources.
