The Ashanti Regional Secretary of the Small Scale Miners Association, Mr Michael Adu Gyamfi, has endorsed plans by the government to implement a new permit system to regulate the importation of excavators into Ghana.
He was optimistic the initiative will strengthen oversight and combat illegal mining.
Speaking in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he stated that illegal mining remains a threat to our environment, and any efforts aimed at dealing with it must be supported by all.
President John Dramani Mahama, speaking at the Global Mining Motion Summit at Kempinski Hotel in Accra on Monday, June 2, 2025, announced plans by the government to implement a new permit system to regulate the importation of excavators into Ghana.
The move will require all imported excavators to be registered and tracked, ensuring their usage is properly monitored.
As part of the new directive, authorities will track excavators to know whether they are being used for illegal mining or not. AJD also supports law enforcement and regulatory agencies in identifying and managing excavator operations.
Commenting on this, Mr Adu Gyamfi noted that this is not a new law, but we had, in the past, failed to implement it.
“However, if we want to enforce it now, that is positive. As Ghanaians, we have a responsibility in supporting any law that is aimed at transforming the country, and so we support this new initiative. The directive is not a new law. We had in the past failed in enforcing it. But it is also good that we want to enforce it now. That is positive.”
He admitted that the fight against illegal mining must be a collective one, and the Small Scale Miners Association remains committed to supporting any efforts by the government in dealing with illegal mining.
Mr Michael Adu Gyamfi stressed the need for the regulatory authorities to enforce our existing laws.
“We know clearly that these excavators don’t fall from the skies. They go through our ports, but because we failed to enforce our laws, it created a serious problem.”
Meanwhile, he has appealed to authorities to use persuasion as part of the approaches in enforcing the law.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
