In an effort to tackle the widespread issue of illegal mining, the government has installed tracking devices on 68 excavators across multiple regions in the country.
The move aims to monitor and control the movement of these excavators and combat unauthorized mining activities.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Jinapor, revealed the details of the tracking initiative while addressing questions on the floor of the Parliament.
According to him, the tracked excavators in Tarkwa, Prestea, Obuasi, Bibiani, and Bolgatanga have been equipped with cutting-edge tracking devices.
He explained that these devices enable the authorities to automatically shut down the excavators whenever they venture outside their designated concession areas. To restart these machines, explicit permission is required from officials of the Minerals Commission, who possess access through a secured online application.
As part of the piloting phase of this exercise, the Minerals Commission has established a dedicated control room to closely monitor the operations of the tracked excavators and other earth-moving equipment.
This control centre is crucial in ensuring that the mining activities remain compliant with the legal guidelines and do not contribute to further environmental degradation.
The sector minister further revealed that the government had sought approval from the Public Procurement Authority to acquire drones and additional tracking devices.
The inclusion of drones, he said, is likely to bolster the surveillance capabilities and enhance the efficiency of monitoring mining activities from the sky.
In conjunction with implementing tracking devices, the Minerals Commission has provided various logistical support to strengthen its monitoring capabilities. This support includes vehicles and other essential resources to facilitate efficient oversight of mining operations nationwide.
Illegal mining, locally known as ‘galamsey’, has been a longstanding concern in the country, contributing to environmental degradation, deforestation, and water pollution.