Former President John Mahama isn’t playing around when it comes to tackling illegal mining. In a bold policy move, his government has announced an immediate ban on the importation of excavators—unless you have a valid permit in hand.
Dubbed “No Permit, No Excavator,” the new directive is part of a broader effort to clamp down on illegal mining activities (commonly known as galamsey) and protect Ghana’s rapidly depleting water bodies.
The initiative, launched by the Ministry of Transport under the leadership of Joseph Bukari Nikpe, aims to cut off one of the key tools enabling the environmental destruction caused by galamsey operations.
Simply put: No more shortcuts. No more loopholes. No permit? No excavator. Period.
This hardline stance signals a return to serious environmental protection policies, with Mahama positioning himself as a leader ready to take on the galamsey crisis head-on.
Whether this will be enough to turn the tide remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: the days of freely importing heavy mining machinery without accountability are over.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem