Amansie Central: EPA shuts down shops selling illegal Changfan mining machines

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has launched an unannounced operation in the Amansie Central District to close down shops selling Changfan machines and other equipment used for illegal river mining.

EPA Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, who led the exercise, said the operation was part of efforts to curb river pollution and enforce the ban on mining in water bodies.

“We have identified that these shops are selling Changfan machines, motors, and accessories used for mining in our rivers. It is illegal to sell or operate them,” she stated.

At one suspected sales hub, EPA officers discovered that a Chinese-owned shop had stocked the prohibited equipment. Prof. Browne Klutse said the agency would not tolerate any business that aids river pollution under the guise of selling farming equipment.

“Some operators pretend their machines are for agriculture, but evidence shows they are mainly used for illegal mining in this region,” she explained.

She further revealed that the shop had no valid EPA permit and that her office had requested relevant documents from the operators. “The EPA will not grant licenses to any business involved in supplying tools that support illegal mining,” she warned.

Prof. Browne Klutse emphasized that the enforcement drive was part of a broader national effort to restore degraded water systems and hold offenders accountable. “As we work to clean our rivers, we cannot allow businesses that make such destruction possible to thrive,” she said.

The EPA boss assured that the agency would extend similar operations to other mining hotspots across Ghana. She reiterated that the government remained committed to protecting natural resources from unlawful exploitation.

Changfan machines, floating dredgers widely used in galamsey operations, have been identified as a leading cause of siltation and pollution in rivers such as the Pra, Offin, and Ankobra.

The latest crackdown is an indication the EPA’s renewed determination to dismantle illegal mining support networks and safeguard Ghana’s water bodies from further degradation.