The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Nana Ama Browne Klutse, has led her team to shut down five Chinese warehouses dealing in changfan production.
The information gathered suggests the warehouses were shut down at the Anwia Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region.
According to the EPA, the warehouses, which were registered as spare parts storage facilities, were discovered to contain hundreds of changfan machines..
Professor Klutse, speaking in an interview, revealed, the operation forms part of the EPA’s broader strategy to curb the devastating effects on Ghana’s water bodies, forests, and farmlands caused by galamsey.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) moves follow the announcement of the ban on the manufacturing, importation, sale, and use of “Changfan” machines.
According to the EPA, their decision stems from severe environmental destruction caused by illegal miners.
The EPA, in a statement, announced that the fabrication of Chanfan machines is being carried out without the necessary environmental permits.
They highlighted that while the fabrication and sale of the machines have provided income for some individuals, the destruction caused by illegal miners has led to widespread pollution of water bodies.
Part of the EPA statement read, “In exercise of the powers conferred on the Environmental Protection Authority under sections 3(2)(b) and 35 of the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124)… the following directive is hereby issued.
The directive prohibits the fabrication, importation, and use of Chanfan machines without an EPA permit. It further warns that “any workshops or shops found producing or selling these machines will be shut down, and all existing equipment will be seized and dismantled.”
The EPA, in their statement, ordered individuals, workshops, and establishments that deal in Chanfan machines to cease operations immediately.
Meanwhile, Prof Nana Ama Browne Klutse, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has said Ghana will need US$200,000 to pilot nano nano-liquid technological solution to reverse the devastation caused by illegal mining (galamsey).
According to the Executive Director EPA, the dechemicalization solution, containing a copper-based ‘nano liquid,’ has been laboratory-tested and proven effective in purifying heavily contaminated rivers.
She revealed the EPA is looking at various options, including membrane-based purification.
Speaking on JOYNEWS The Probe, October 5, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse explained, “I want to tell my fellow Ghanaians that there is still hope, because we are in a technology age”.
“Yes, there’s a nano liquid that is copper-based that can be used. That’s just one”.
She added, “We have tried this, which has been tested in Greece. I have seen for myself. We have done the test in the lab for the EPA and advised the government on this; we have tested it, and it works, and it’s doable.”
“To do pilots to show to Ghanaians and even the presidents that this is doable. We need 200,000 USD if I get it today, we will do the pilot for every Ghanaian to see that with the flowing river, this particular technology can be used.”
“We are looking at all of the options, and we will have to decide on the one that is more affordable, not just cheap affordable, because it’s effective and also cost-effective”, Prof Nana Ama Browne Klutse added.