The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has intercepted 1,070 banned Chanfang mining machines at the Tema Port in what officials describe as one of the largest single seizures in the government’s intensified campaign against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The operation, carried out on March 3, 2026, followed what the Authority said was a coordinated, intelligence-led exercise involving multiple state security and regulatory agencies.

A source at the EPA’s Tema office indicated that the machines had been concealed in imported containers and were allegedly destined for a sophisticated syndicate linked to a Chanfang cartel suspected of contributing to the destruction of rivers and forest reserves across the country.

According to the source, the seizure was the culmination of months of surveillance and analysis of suspicious import patterns believed to be enabling the entry of prohibited mining equipment into Ghana despite strict regulatory controls.

Ban and legal breaches

Chanfang machines, commonly used in alluvial gold mining, have been outlawed due to their severe environmental impact, including the pollution of rivers and streams and the degradation of fertile agricultural land.

In October 2025, the EPA issued a nationwide directive prohibiting the fabrication, importation, sale and use of the machines. The decision was taken amid growing concerns about their role in contaminating water bodies, causing significant siltation of riverbeds and damaging aquatic ecosystems.

The Authority explained that many of the machines had been manufactured or imported without the requisite permits or environmental approvals, in violation of the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124) and the Environmental Protection (Environmental Assessment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2504).

“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,” the EPA stated.

An EPA official said the latest seizure demonstrated the government’s determination to dismantle illegal mining networks and choke off the supply chains that sustain them.

“We are going after not only those operating on the ground but also the financiers, importers, and logistical facilitators behind these activities,” the official added.

The confiscated machines are currently under secure custody while investigations continue. Authorities have indicated that individuals and companies connected to the shipment will face prosecution in accordance with the law.

Broader anti-galamsey drive

The seizure comes as the EPA pursues broader efforts to restore polluted water bodies. Recently, the Authority deployed ionic nano-copper technology to treat sections of the heavily polluted River Birim in the Eastern Region, at an estimated cost of $200,000 per kilometre.

The EPA leadership has consistently maintained that Chanfang machines are a major contributor to the degradation of water bodies through illegal and unregulated mining. The Authority insists it will no longer tolerate the smuggling of such equipment into the country without proper oversight.

Illegal mining continues to exact a heavy environmental toll, contaminating major rivers that provide drinking water for millions. State agencies have repeatedly warned that the unchecked use of heavy-duty mining equipment poses a significant threat to national water security and public health.