The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Transport, has announced an immediate ban on the importation of excavators into the country.
The directive forms part of renewed efforts to clamp down on illegal mining and protect Ghana’s water bodies.
In a statement issued on Thursday, June 5, 2024, the Ministry of Transport introduced a new policy titled “No Permit, No Excavator,” emphasizing the need for proper authorization before importation.
The government has further directed that all shipping lines must refrain from transporting excavators into the country unless importers obtain a permit from the Ministry of Transport in advance.
President John Dramani Mahama reinforced this directive during the Global Mining in Motion Summit on Monday, June 2, 2025, stressing the importance of stringent regulations to control mining activities.
“We are going to change the permitting regime. You will not be allowed to import an excavator or put it on a ship unless you get a permit before you can bring an excavator,” he stated.
