The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources says more than 500 excavators have been seized since January 2025 as part of the ongoing crackdown on illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
According to the Ministry’s Director of Communications, Ama Mawusi, the confiscated machines are being kept at secure locations, including regional police commands and military barracks, depending on where they were impounded.
“Over 500 excavators have been seized. Some are with the police, others are in the regions, and some are in the barracks, depending on where we took them,” she told Myjoyonline.
Ms. Mawusi added that tracking devices have been installed on all the seized equipment to ensure they remain accounted for.
“We have put tracking devices on them. If any excavator is moved, we will be able to detect it. As far as we know, all the machines remain intact,” she stressed.
She further highlighted that the establishment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has strengthened the government’s fight against illegal mining activities across the country.
