At the Global Mining Summit held in Accra on June 2, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama unveiled a stringent new policy titled “No Permit, No Excavator,” aimed at intensifying efforts against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Under this policy, the importation of excavators into Ghana will be strictly regulated, requiring prior government-issued permits.
President Mahama emphasized that no excavator would be allowed into the country or even loaded onto a ship bound for Ghana without the necessary authorization.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, President Mahama noted that Ghana currently possesses more excavators than any other African nation a factor contributing significantly to environmental degradation through illegal mining activities.
To combat this, the government plans to implement a real-time tracking system for excavators to monitor their usage and ensure they are not employed in unauthorized mining operations.
Key measures include banning toxic substances like mercury in gold processing, requiring the rehabilitation of mined sites, and supporting small-scale miners to form legal, environmentally sustainable cooperatives.
Furthermore, President Mahama revealed that eight out of nine forest reserves previously invaded by illegal miners have been cleared, with ongoing efforts to restore these ecosystems.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, also addressed the summit, attributing the persistence of galamsey to regulatory failures, political miscalculations, and corruption.
He warned that the continuous destruction of water bodies through illegal mining poses a serious threat to the country’s environment and future, calling for urgent and sustained action to halt these activities.
These comprehensive measures underscore the government’s commitment to eradicating illegal mining and promoting sustainable practices within Ghana’s mining sector.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
