For the first time, Ghana is tracking excavators – Sammy Gyamfi hails new galamsey strategy

Sammy Gyamfi, National Communications Officer of the NDC, has highlighted what he describes as an unprecedented shift in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show with Kojo Yankson monitored by MyNewsGh, Gyamfi pointed to fresh strategies that, according to him, demonstrate “clear political will” and a “new approach” under the current administration.

He noted that for the first time in the country’s history, excavators brought into Ghana are being registered and fitted with trackers before being cleared.

“The president has given instructions that you don’t clear the excavator until it is registered and a tracker inserted in it. Because there is a law that makes that a mandatory requirement,” Gyamfi explained.

This, he argued, marks a break from past administrations where mining equipment often went unmonitored, making accountability difficult.

“Once you are registering and tracking them, you know who owns it. So if it is found engaged in illegal mining, you can go for the owner, not just the young guys working on the mine,” he added.

Gyampi stressed that seized equipment is no longer being diverted for partisan gain.

According to him, over 900 water pumps have been reassigned to the Ministry of Agriculture, while confiscated excavators are being allocated to district assemblies for developmental projects.

“Something new is happening,” he emphasized.

He acknowledged challenges in completely eradicating galamsey, but insisted that the introduction of systematic monitoring, coupled with inter-agency collaboration, proves that Ghana is moving beyond lip service.

“Nobody should expect that we will be able to solve the entirety of the problem in 8 months. What you need to see in 8 months is what you are seeing—a clear political will and a new approach.”