In an endeavor to combat illegal mining across the country, the government has taken significant measures.

68 excavators located in Tarkwa, Prestea, Obuasi, Bibiani, and Bolgatanga have been equipped with tracking devices.

Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, disclosed this information while addressing questions in Parliament.

These tracking devices have the capability to automatically deactivate the excavators if they venture beyond their designated concession areas.

To reactivate them, authorized officials from the Minerals Commission are required to utilize a dedicated online application.

To oversee the operations of the excavators and other mobile equipment during the pilot phase of this initiative, the Minerals Commission has set up a dedicated control room.

Moreover, the Ministry and the Minerals Commission have been diligently collaborating to ensure the tracking of all earth-moving and tracking equipment, in strict accordance with the law.

In order to obtain necessary equipment for this purpose, the Public Procurement Authority's approval has been sought for the acquisition of drones and tracking devices.

“The Ministry and the Minerals Commission have been working to track all earth-moving and tracking equipment in accordance with the law. The approval has been sought from the Public Procurement Authority for the purchase of drones and tracking devices. For this purpose, the Minerals Commission has however already established a control room to monitor the operations of excavators and other earth-moving equipment.”

“Some 68 excavators in Tarkwa, Prestea, Obuasi, Bibiani, and Bolgatanga have all been installed with tracking devices for piloting. Several other logistical support has been provided to the Minerals Commission to enable it effectively monitor mining operations, including vehicles, among others,” he stated.

However, the Minerals Commission has already taken the initiative to establish the control room as a preemptive measure to monitor the activities of excavators and other earth-moving equipment.

The implementation of tracking devices on the 68 excavators in the aforementioned areas marks the beginning of the pilot program. Additionally, the Minerals Commission has been provided with various logistical support, including vehicles, to effectively monitor mining operations.

This comprehensive effort by the government is part of a broader campaign to combat illegal mining, which has caused extensive environmental damage in Ghana.