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The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has closed down five Chinese-owned warehouses at Anwia Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region for producing and storing changfan machines and other equipment linked to illegal mining activities.
The operation, led by the EPA’s Chief Executive Officer, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, uncovered hundreds of changfan machines and components concealed in warehouses that were officially registered as spare parts storage facilities.
According to the EPA, the enforcement action follows a nationwide directive banning the fabrication, importation, sale, and use of changfan machines due to their destructive impact on the environment, particularly on Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves.
The Agency explained that the operations of the warehouses breached the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124), and the Environmental Protection (Environmental Assessment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2504), as the owners were manufacturing the machines without the required environmental permits.
Professor Klutse emphasized that the move is part of the EPA’s broader strategy to combat illegal mining and ensure compliance with environmental laws. She noted that similar operations will be conducted in other regions where galamsey remains prevalent.
She further warned that any individual or entity found violating the directive will face prosecution, reaffirming the EPA’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s natural resources and ensuring sustainable environmental practices.
