The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a directive prohibiting the fabrication, importation, sale, and use of ‘Changfan’ machines in Ghana, citing their role in illegal mining activities and environmental degradation.
The EPA stated that it had observed the unauthorized fabrication of Changfan machines, which are commonly used in small-scale mining operations.
According to the Agency, these machines have contributed to the pollution of water bodies, destruction of forest reserves, and loss of aquatic biodiversity.
“The fabrication, importation, sale, and use of Changfan machines without EPA permit are prohibited,” the EPA said in a statement issued on October 29, 2025.
The directive is grounded in the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490), and the Environmental Protection (Environmental Assessment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2504).
It mandates that individuals found in possession of such machines must surrender them to the EPA or face legal consequences.
“Any person found in possession of such machines shall be made to surrender them to the EPA or face the full rigors of the law,” the Agency warned.
To ensure compliance, the EPA announced that it will collaborate with the Ghana Police Service and other relevant agencies to monitor activities, seize equipment, and prosecute offenders.
“EPA enforcement operations, in collaboration with security agencies, will ensure full compliance with the directive through monitoring, seizure, and prosecution where necessary,” the notice stated.
The public has been advised to take note of the directive and comply accordingly.
The EPA emphasized that non-compliance will attract severe sanctions and penalties, describing the use of Changfan machines as a serious violation of national environmental and mining regulations.
