Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, says 1,200 excavators have been impounded at the Tema Port and are awaiting validation before clearance.
The action forms part of Ghana's efforts to control the inflow and use of earth-moving equipment in the fight against illegal small-scale mining.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, July 23, the Minister said, "In collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance (GRA-Customs Division), and the Ports and Harbours Authority, we have initiated a proactive tracking of all imports of excavators and earth-moving equipment from the point of entry.
So far, 1,200 excavators have been impounded pending validation before clearance at the Tema Port." The minister explained that the clampdown forms part of a broader national strategy to tackle environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, especially in water bodies and forest reserves.
