The government has announced plans to hand over 70 excavators confiscated from illegal mining operators to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to support a nationwide desilting exercise aimed at reducing flooding across the country.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to improve drainage systems, clear clogged waterways, and strengthen flood prevention measures, especially in communities frequently affected by heavy rains.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, June 10, Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, said the equipment—seized during anti-galamsey operations—would be put to productive national use rather than left idle.
According to him, the excavators will be deployed across various parts of the country to help clear drains and improve the flow of stormwater ahead of the peak rainy season.
“Currently, what we are doing is that all the seized excavators from illegal mining activities—about 70 of them—will be given to NADMO so that they can take them across the country to do desilting.
“We will do the handover next week so that they can use them to desilt most of the drains. But the bottom line is that we should begin to clean our surroundings,” he stated.
Mr. Muntaka stressed that while government continues to invest resources in improving drainage infrastructure, citizens also have a responsibility to keep their surroundings clean and avoid practices that contribute to flooding.
Flooding remains a major challenge in several parts of Ghana, particularly in urban centres such as Accra, where heavy rainfall often leads to loss of property, displacement of residents, and disruption of economic activities.
Experts have consistently linked the recurring floods to blocked drains, indiscriminate waste disposal, and encroachment on waterways, calling for stronger enforcement and greater public cooperation to address the problem.
