Accra, Ghana – March 3, 2026 – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has intercepted 1,070 prohibited Chanfang mining machines at the Tema Port in one of the largest single seizures since the government intensified its fight against illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey.

The operation, executed on March 3, 2026, was the result of months of intelligence-led surveillance and multi-agency collaboration involving customs, security services, and regulatory bodies.

Officials say the machines were concealed in imported containers and destined for a sophisticated syndicate suspected of fueling widespread river and forest destruction across Ghana.

Chanfang machines—small, portable alluvial gold mining equipment—were banned nationwide in October 2025 due to their severe environmental impact. They cause extensive river pollution, heavy siltation, destruction of aquatic ecosystems, and degradation of fertile farmland.

The EPA cited the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124) and the Environmental Protection (Environmental Assessment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2504) as the legal basis for the prohibition.

“Although the manufacture and sale of these machines may have created livelihoods for some individuals, their use in riverine mining has resulted in extensive environmental damage, including polluted water bodies, silted rivers, and the loss of aquatic biodiversity,” an EPA statement read.

The seized equipment is now under secure custody pending further investigations. Authorities have vowed to prosecute all individuals and companies linked to the shipment, signaling a broader strategy to target not only on-the-ground operators but also importers, financiers, and logistical facilitators sustaining the illegal mining ecosystem.

The interception aligns with the EPA’s ongoing efforts to restore degraded water bodies. The agency recently deployed ionic nano-copper technology to treat polluted sections of the Birim River in the Eastern Region, at an estimated cost of $200,000 per kilometre.

Illegal mining remains one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental and public health challenges, contaminating major rivers that supply drinking water to millions. The EPA reiterated its zero-tolerance stance and commitment to dismantling supply chains that enable the entry of banned equipment.

Welcome to our rolling news updates from Ghana, bringing you the latest developments as they break. Check back frequently for new additions as events unfold.

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