The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has closed a Chinese owned warehouse in Anwia Nkwanta, Ashanti Region, for allegedly storing and fabricating equipment used in illegal mining operations.
Officials shut down FEI FUCAI warehouse after discovering hundreds of Changfan machine components and mining accessories inside the facility. The business had been registered as an automobile spare parts dealer, but investigations revealed a different operation entirely.
“The company has been operating under the pretence of a spare parts business, but investigations revealed it was actively engaged in the fabrication of Changfan machines,” an EPA enforcement officer said during the operation. The officer emphasized that such activities violate government directives and threaten environmental safety.
The closure follows recent government orders banning the importation, use, and local fabrication of Changfan machines. These devices have become synonymous with widespread environmental destruction, particularly damage to water bodies, forest reserves, and agricultural lands through galamsey activities.
Authorities described the enforcement action as part of a nationwide clampdown targeting the entire illegal mining supply chain. The crackdown extends beyond field operations to include suppliers, manufacturers, and financial backers who sustain the underground network.
The EPA warned that similar operations will continue across the country as agencies work to dismantle infrastructure supporting unauthorized mining. Officials stressed that anyone involved in importing, assembling, or distributing banned equipment faces prosecution.
The agency confirmed it is working closely with the Ghana Police Service, the Minerals Commission, and the Inter Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining to enforce compliance. This collaborative approach aims to ensure violators face legal consequences while preventing further environmental degradation.
Ghana has intensified efforts against galamsey in recent years as concerns mount over water pollution, deforestation, and loss of farmland. The operations have sparked public debate about economic opportunities versus environmental preservation, particularly in mining communities where livelihoods depend on both legal and illegal extraction activities.
Source: newsghana.com.gh
