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The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) has asked owners of earth moving machines to license their equipment by Sunday, March 31, 2019.

A statement by the Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah noted that "as part of efforts to sanitize and regularize operations in the country, the Inter-ministerial Committee Illegal Mining (IMCIM) is tracking all earth moving equipment (excavators, bulldozers etc.) for licensing and registration with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the Authority mandated by law to license and registers all motorized vehicles".

“In furtherance of its mandate, the Ministry of Transport, through its Agency the DVLA in collaboration with the IMCIM and with the active support of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, wishes to bring to the prompt attention of owners of earth moving equipment (excavators, bulldozers etc), as well as those who hire these equipment to as soon as possible, and not later than 31st March, 2019, license and register them with the DVLA, if they have not done so already, the statement further read.

The IMCIM is advising the owners to comply with the directive or face prosecution for failure to get their earth moving equipment licensed and registered by the deadline.

“The affected persons and institutions are kindly advised to take note that ‘a person who uses or keeps a motor vehicle or trailer not being an exempt motor vehicle on a road when particulars of the motor vehicle or trailer have not been entered in the register maintained by the licensing authority in accordance with section 39 of the Road Traffic Act, 2004, Act 683, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to fine not exceeding 250 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or to both.”

This directive is to ensure that the mining sector is well coordinated and sanitized, and also end illegal mining in the country.

In order to monitor mining concessions and owners of small-scale mining companies in the country, a software known as "Galamstop" has been developed to facilitate the process.

Authorities  indicate that the software will enable the government track the companies and owners engaging in illegal mining activities, and also ensure that provisions in the Mining Act which state that licenses should be awarded 90 days after the application is adhered to.