‘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 ...