The government and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources have set a deadline for all excavator owners in the country to get their excavators registered with the relevant local government authorities.
“An owner, operator and/or user of an excavator shall, at the time of registration, specify the purpose for which the excavator is being used or to be used and the area where the excavator is being used or will be used,” a statement from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources said.
Any excavator that is not registered in line with this directive before November 2, 2022, shall be seized and confiscated by the State.
This directive is in line with government’s fight against galamsey and protect various water bodies in the country.
As part of the registration Metropolitan, Municipal or District Assemblies are to record the name and particulars of the owner of the excavator, the date the excavator was brought into the country, the registration number, the chassis number, the purposes for which the excavator was brought into the country, the area where the excavator is expected to be used and the name and particulars of the current operator and user of the excavator.
The MMDAs are also encouraged to record other particulars they may deem necessary.
Excavators used in galamsey have accelerated the rate of deforestation and increased the scale of illegal small-scale mining operations.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources assured that “it will continue to take the necessary measures to protect our natural environment, particularly, water bodies, forests and lands, in a transparent and sustainable manner, anchored on integrity.”
