Gov’t Orders Mandatory Excavator Registration Within 14 Days, Non-Compliance to Attract Seizure

The government has issued a strict two-week deadline to all excavator owners and operators to register their machinery with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) or risk confiscation as parts of efforts to intensify the fight against illegal mining and enhance accountability in the heavy equipment sector.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, announced that the state will begin seizing any excavator found operating without proper registration after the deadline.

“The DVLA has 34 offices across the country, so we have the capacity to register all excavators and farm equipment within the two-week ultimatum that has been given. The authority stands ready to enforce our mandatory obligation without fail.”  Kotey affirmed.

Nationwide Enforcement Begins

The crackdown will be enforced by a joint task force involving the DVLA and the Ghana Police Service, with operations targeted at mining areas and commercial-use sites. The DVLA says unregistered excavators will not only be impounded but their operators may also face legal consequences.

The move is part of a wider inter-agency collaboration involving the Minerals Commission, National Security, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The initiative seeks to register and tag all new and existing excavators in a bid to curb their use in illegal mining activities, known locally as galamsey.

“This exercise is to enable the identification of every excavator and equipment that enters the country and to trace their ownership, including their operations,” Kotey noted.

Legal Backing and Industry Implications

The registration directive is anchored in Section 38 of Act 683, which mandates that all motor vehicles and trailers including heavy machinery like excavators be registered before being used or operated.

Kotey revealed that despite this legal requirement, many excavators and farm machines in mining zones remain unregistered, raising concerns about regulatory oversight and enforcement.

“Some farm equipment found being used for galamsey had also not been registered with the authority,” he said, noting the urgent need to plug this regulatory gap.

Galamsey Connection and Policy Background

The DVLA’s move aligns with a broader government strategy to combat environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, commonly called “galamsey.” Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah recently unveiled new policies to track, tag, and monitor all excavators entering the country. These efforts also involve geo-fencing of legal mining concessions and the integration of mining data into a centralized tracking system.

“Excavator use by illegal miners is what has aggravated the destruction of the environment. This collaboration must include the CID, Minerals Commission, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Customs, and law enforcement agencies.”  Kotey said.

The new registration regime aims to create a transparent digital footprint of all heavy machinery in the mining sector, linking equipment to owners and enforcing penalties for non-compliance.

Business and Investment Considerations

For equipment owners, dealers, and operators, the directive has significant business implications. Failure to comply could result in not just asset seizures but disruptions to mining operations, financing complications, and reputational risks.

As the government intensifies its crackdown on illegal mining, businesses in the construction, agriculture, and extractive sectors must now ensure regulatory alignment and swift compliance to avoid penalties.

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