Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has disclosed a major technological leap in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, revealing that over 191 excavators are now under surveillance through a newly deployed centralised digital tracking system.
Speaking during a sectoral briefing on Wednesday, July 23, Mr. Buah announced the rollout of the Ghana Mine Repository and Tracking Software, an advanced monitoring platform developed by the Minerals Commission.
The system is part of a broader national strategy to bring greater transparency, regulation, and accountability to mining operations across the country.
“The development of a centralised digital platform named the Ghana Mine Repository and Tracking Software has been deployed by the Minerals Commission and is at an advanced stage to support this initiative,” the Minister stated.
He explained that the platform is designed as an integrated digital hub, connecting key government institutions such as Customs, the DVLA, the Ministry of Transport, National Security, the Minerals Commission, and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat. The goal, he said, is to streamline oversight, eliminate duplication, and ensure that only authorised equipment is operating within approved concession zones.
“This system will ensure transparency, prevent duplication, and provide authorised institutions with real-time data,” he added.
The system, Mr. Buah noted, is backed by Legislative Instrument 2404—known as the Minerals and Mining (Mineral Operations–Tracking of Earth Moving and Mining Equipment) Regulations, 2020—which mandates the registration and regulated use of all mining and earth-moving machinery.
“L.I. 2404 ensures that machinery and equipment are tracked in real time and used only in mining areas for which they have been registered,” the Minister emphasised.
With more than 191 excavators already being tracked, the government hopes this initiative will become a cornerstone in its aggressive campaign to end illegal mining, protect the environment, and restore order to Ghana’s mineral sector. The Minister assured that as the system reaches full deployment, its impact will be felt across all regions, delivering not just regulatory oversight but accountability at every level of mining activity.
