‘Without Chinese-manufactured Chang Fa machines, many rivers would have been portable.’
The Transition
Before the introduction of machinery and technology by the Chinese, small-scale mining in Ghana remained artisanal. The damage to the environment was minimal, controllable and within both regulatory and traditional controls. Since 2017, however, this local vocation has transformed into a full boom, leading to unprecedented devastation to the environment, especially the water bodies. About 60% of water bodies stand polluted due to illegal mining and other activities, enhanced using Chang Fa, pumping machines and motorised platforms.
These machines and platforms are now weaponised for destruction. A weapon is any object, instrument, substance, or device intended to be used in a way that is likely to cause harm, or death, or with which harm or death can be easily and readily produced. Even though they have multiple uses, the way the Chang fa is being employed is now weaponised and destructive, to the detriment of our country.
Regulatory Gap Exploited
In Ghana, the Minerals and Mining (Support Services) Regulations, 2012 (LI 2174) of Ghana dictate the conditions under which an individual can provide supporting services. Sections 59 and 110 (1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), on the other hand, classify the service into two as: ‘Class A’ or ‘Class B’ support services. Any registered person who provides contract mining support services to a Small-Scale Mining license holder shall give notice of the ‘provision of the services’ to the relevant District Office of the Commission, and the Municipal and District Assembly Office by submitting a copy of that person's certificate.
The renewal is subject to compliance with the terms and conditions of the certificate and these Regulations. Class ‘B’ services are solely reserved for Ghanaians. Any foreign national who intends to provide contract mining services to small-scale mining license holders before the commencement of these Regulations shall be permitted to do so until otherwise determined by the Minister. But to provide a service that supports or enhances illegality is a breach of the law by any foreigner.
The Exploitation and Harm
Currently, most of these mining support services to small-scale illegal miners are provided by Chinese and Indians, even though Ghanaians have attempted to enter the stream. Excavators, Chang fa, and Water Pumping machines have multiple uses. Water pumping machines have been known to support agriculture.
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| Maj. Dr. Ebenezer Kwakye Agyemang (Rtd.) |
Excavators are also used to support construction and legitimate mining in Ghana. By early October 2025, over 435 excavators had been seized by the state. Chang fa, machines, in their original state, could be used for power generation in multiple settings. Interestingly, field studies have revealed a dangerous weaponised dimension to their use.
Currently, there are more Chang Fa machines in small-scale illegal mining sites than in any of the areas. As a water-cooled evaporative single cylinder diesel engine, it is used to crush gold-laden rocks, support platforms on the water bodies, and used to generate power, among others at the various sites. By early 2018, 1,788 mining equipment had been seized, and 2,919 Chang fa machines (floating platforms) destroyed. By the end of 2018, over 4,481 Chang Fa machines were seized or immobilised, and 910 water pumping machines were either confiscated, immobilised, or burnt by my team. In 2022, over 838 Chang fa machines and other mining equipment being used on the Offin River in the Western Region were seized. By 2022, Operation Vanguard had seized and destroyed over 10,800 of them. This year, over three hundred Chang Fa machines have been seized or destroyed by NIAMOS. There are over 50,000 Chang Fa machines in the field, all contributing to the further destruction of our water bodies and creating an existential threat.
Call to Action
In 2021, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources attempted to ban the use and assembly of Chang-fa boats, which float on water bodies for dredging. In 2025, the same call is being made. Declaring the equipment illegal will drive to halt the dredging of water bodies for gold. Chang Fa has become common as gold miners desperately search for the ore in river bodies. The equipment consists of motor-powered barrellike apparatus held together with steel. Wooden boards cover the platform powered by the Chang-fa engine. The use of Chang Fa has contributed to the destruction of water bodies. Regrettably, the initiatives by the governments have failed to achieve the needed results.
Renewed Policy Option
With the identified multiple weaponised uses of the machines and their contribution to ecological damage, especially the pollution of water bodies, the government should consider one of five options:
a. Ban importation of all Chang fa machines and similar equipment into Ghana.
b. Take inventory of machines already in Ghana and monitor their sales. The Ministry of
Trade, Agribusiness & Industry could regulate that.
c. Increase the import duty on Chang Fa and related machines.
d. Empower security and regulatory agencies to immobilise or burn all such machines on site, in situ.
e. Arrest all those importing/selling Chang fa machines and their accessories to illegal miners. and confiscate their stock for aiding illegality.
This action will contribute to saving not only our environment but also our water bodies, while preserving the health of our people. It will also safeguard the supply of electric power from the Bui Power Station. The Chang Fa Machines and their platforms are now weapons of destruction.
Source: Maj. Dr. Ebenezer Kwakye Agyemang (Rtd.)
Team Lead/Chief Education Officer
Crossbridge Leadership Institute
Email: ek_agyemang@yahoo.co.ok
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