Ken Ashigbey Demands Probe into 14 Containers of Seized Changfang Machines at Tema Port

Introduction: A Major Seizure Ignites Calls for Accountability

The interception of 14 shipping containers laden with hundreds of changfang machines at Ghana’s Tema Port has reignited a fierce national debate on the efficacy of the country’s battle against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey. Ing Kenneth Ashigbey, the Convenor of the influential Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, has issued a stark and urgent demand: a comprehensive, transparent investigation to identify and prosecute every individual and entity responsible for importing this prohibited equipment. This incident is not merely a customs seizure; it is a critical test of Ghana’s regulatory sovereignty, environmental protection commitments, and the integrity of its port security systems. Ashigbey’s call transcends the immediate seizure, pointing to systemic vulnerabilities that allow machinery, widely recognized as a primary tool for destructive illegal mining operations, to enter the country despite existing bans and regulations. The core question now is how such a large consignment could evade detection, and what this reveals about the depth of the galamsey supply chain’s infiltration into formal systems.

Key Points: Unpacking the Tema Port Incident

The situation, as presented by Ing Ashigbey and reported by Life Pulse Daily, centers on several non-negotiable facts and demands:

• Seizure Details: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) successfully intercepted 14 containers at Tema Port containing a large quantity of changfang machines, a type of heavy excavator/loader machinery.
• Primary Demand: Ashigbey insists on a full-scale probe to “name and shame” the importers, financiers, and any accomplices within state institutions who facilitated this breach.
• Dual-Use Argument Rejected: He strongly dismisses any defense that the machines were intended for legitimate agriculture, drawing a parallel to controlled substances: certain items have legal uses but are banned due to their predominant role in causing severe societal harm.
• Regulatory Failure: The incident exposes a catastrophic failure in port security and regulatory enforcement. Ashigbey questions how such machinery, which requires pre-shipment clearance for even standard excavators, could be shipped in undetected.
• Local Complicity: He alleges that some local government assemblies (District Assemblies) are complicit by allegedly granting permissions for the use of such machines, directly fueling environmental destruction at the community level.
• Strategic Focus: The solution lies in stopping the influx at the ports, not just arresting surface-level operators. The fight must target the importers and financiers—the “kingpins” of the illegal mining economy.

Background: The Galamsey Crisis and the Role of Changfang Machines

The Devastation of Galamsey

Illegal mining (galamsey) has evolved from small-scale artisanal activity into a large-scale, organized, and environmentally catastrophic enterprise across Ghana. It is the primary driver of severe deforestation, water pollution (particularly of major rivers like the Pra and Offin), and land degradation. The use of heavy machinery, especially changfang machines—often modified Chinese-made excavators or loaders—allows operators to strip large areas of topsoil and bedrock rapidly, causing irreparable damage. The toxic soup of mercury and other chemicals used in gold extraction then contaminates water sources, affecting drinking water, agriculture, and fisheries for millions.

What Are Changfang Machines?

Changfang machines refer to a class of versatile, heavy-duty wheeled excavators or loaders. While they have legitimate applications in construction, agriculture (e.g., large-scale earthmoving for irrigation), and mining (with proper permits), their design—mobility, power, and ability to operate in rough terrain—makes them the preferred tool for illegal gold mining. Their importation and use for galamsey have been explicitly restricted. The Ghanaian government, through the EPA and the Minerals Commission, has listed them among “prohibited equipment” for unlicensed mining operations. The ban is a direct response to their devastating efficiency in enabling rapid, large-scale environmental destruction.

The Legal and Regulatory Framework

Ghana’s primary legal tools against illegal mining are:

• The Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703): This act vests all minerals in the President, mandates licensing for any mining activity, and sets severe penalties for unauthorized operations. It prohibits the use of “any mineral or mining equipment” without a valid license.
• Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490): Grants the EPA authority to regulate activities that impact the environment, including requiring Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and permits for mining-related equipment importation and use.
• Ghana Integrated Port Management System: In theory, this system requires rigorous pre-shipment verification and clearance for goods, especially restricted items like heavy mining machinery, before they are loaded onto vessels bound for Ghana.

The seizure of 14 containers suggests a complete breakdown or deliberate bypass of these multi-layered controls.

Analysis: Systemic Failures and the Supply Chain of Destruction

The Tema Port seizure is a symptom of profound systemic weaknesses. Ashigbey’s analysis correctly shifts focus from the symptom (the machines on site) to the disease (the supply chain).

1. Intelligence and Port Security Lapse

The fundamental question is: How did 14 containers of highly suspicious cargo pass through? This implies a failure at multiple points: the exporting country’s documentation may have been falsified (misdeclaring the machines as agricultural or construction equipment), the shipping line’s manifest may have been inaccurate, or Ghanaian port officials either failed to inspect or were compromised. Given that even a single standard excavator requires clearance, a shipment of hundreds of changfang machines should have triggered immediate red flags. This points to either gross negligence or corruption within the port’s intelligence and inspection units.

2. The “Legitimate Use” Smokescreen

A common tactic is to claim the machinery is for “agricultural mechanization” or “construction.” Ashigbey’s analogy to controlled substances is potent. Just as pseudoephedrine is a legal cold medicine but a key precursor for methamphetamine, changfang machines are legally usable but are the indispensable tool for galamsey. The law must therefore treat their importation without verifiable, large-scale agricultural permits as a presumptive offense. The burden of proof should shift to the importer to demonstrate a legitimate, operational, and large-scale agricultural project that necessitates dozens of such machines.

3. Local Government Complicity

The allegation that some District Assemblies are permitting the use of these machines is critical. District Chief Executives (DCEs) and Assembly members have authority over land use and local policing. If they are granting “permits” or turning a blind eye, they become active enablers. This creates a deadly synergy: imported machines from the port, facilitated by national-level failures, are given operational cover at the local level. This decentralized permission system is a major loophole.

4. Targeting the Kingpins, Not the Foot Soldiers

Enforcement has often focused on arresting galamsey operators—often poor youth with pickaxes—while the financiers, landowners who lease land, and equipment importers operate with impunity. Ashigbey’s emphasis on prosecuting the importers is a strategic shift to dismantle the economic engine. Without the machinery, large-scale galamsey grinds to a halt. The financial trail from the seized containers back to bank accounts and corporate registrations is the investigation’s most crucial path.

Practical Advice: A Multi-Pronged Strategy to Stem the Tide

Based on this incident, a credible strategy must involve all stakeholders:

For Government and Regulatory Agencies (EPA, Minerals Commission, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority – GPHA)

• Immediate Forensic Audit: Launch a joint task force investigation into the 14 containers. Trace the shipping documents, bill of lading, import license applications, and consignee details from the country of origin to the final intended recipient in Ghana.
• Port System Overhaul: Implement mandatory, AI-assisted scanning and physical inspection protocols for all heavy machinery shipments. Establish a dedicated, cross-agency “Mining Equipment Task Force” permanently stationed at Tema and Takoradi Ports.
• Public Whistleblower Portal: Create a secure, anonymous channel for port officials, shipping agents, and customs brokers to report suspicious machinery shipments without fear of reprisal.
• Clamp Down on Local Permits: The Ministry of Local Government must audit all permits issued by District Assemblies for “heavy earth-moving equipment” in the last five years, cross-referencing with EPA and Minerals Commission licenses.

For the Media and Civil Society (Like the Media Coalition)

• Sustained Investigative Journalism: Move beyond reporting the seizure. Investigate the corporate entities behind the import order. Follow the money. Profile the networks that own and lease these machines to galamsey sites.
• Public Naming and Shaming: Maintain a public ledger of convicted importers, financiers, and complicit officials. Social stigma can be a powerful deterrent.
• Community Monitoring: Partner with community-based organizations in known galamsey hotspots to document the movement and use of changfang machines, creating a parallel evidence base.

For the International Community and Trading Partners

• Diplomatic Engagement: The Ghanaian government must engage with the exporting countries (primarily China) to enforce stricter due diligence on their exporters. Bilateral agreements on pre-shipment certification for restricted dual-use machinery are essential.
• Supply Chain Transparency: Pressure major international shipping lines to adopt stricter cargo verification policies for Ghana-bound shipments of heavy equipment, refusing to transport misdeclared goods.

FAQ: Addressing Common Questions

What exactly is a changfang machine and why is it banned?

A changfang machine is a versatile, wheeled excavator/loader. It is banned for unlicensed use in Ghana because its mobility and power make it the most efficient tool for large-scale illegal gold mining (galamsey), which causes massive environmental destruction. Its importation without a specific, verifiable permit from the EPA and Minerals Commission is illegal under Act 703 and Act 490.

What are the penalties for importing banned mining equipment?

Under the Minerals and Mining Act (Act 703), operating without a license or using prohibited equipment can lead to fines, imprisonment (up to 5 years for first offenses), and forfeiture of the equipment. The EPA Act also provides for fines and prosecution for environmental violations. The specific penalty for this importation fraud would also involve customs and import regulation laws, which carry additional fines and potential jail terms.

How can machines be imported if they are banned?

They are often imported through:

• Misdeclaration: Listing them as “agricultural tractors,” “construction loaders,” or “general cargo.”
• Falsified Documentation: Using fake permits or certificates of origin.
• Corruption: Bribing port officials to overlook discrepancies or avoid physical inspection.
• Exploiting Loopholes: Importing components and assembling locally, or using “temporary import” bonds for projects that never materialize.

What is the role of the EPA versus the Minerals Commission?

The Minerals Commission is the primary agency for regulating the mining sector, issuing licenses, and overseeing mineral operations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for environmental regulation, requiring EIAs and permits for activities that impact the environment, including the import and use of heavy machinery in environmentally sensitive areas. Their mandates overlap in mining, requiring coordination. The EPA’s seizure action is based on its environmental protection mandate.

Is the “agricultural use” defense ever valid?

Yes, but it requires rigorous proof. A legitimate, large-scale commercial farm (e.g., a rice plantation or irrigation project) may legitimately require such machinery. The importer must provide:

• A valid, operational agricultural business license.
• Proof of land ownership or lease for a project of sufficient scale to justify dozens of machines.
• A specific permit from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture or a recognized agricultural agency.
• A clear logistical plan showing the machines will be transported directly to the documented farm site, not a mining area.

Absent this, the “agricultural use” claim is almost certainly a fraudulent cover.

Conclusion: Beyond the Seizure, A Test of National Will

The seizure of 14 containers of changfang machines at Tema Port is a watershed moment. It provides an unambiguous, tangible trail from the international supply chain to the heart of Ghana’s galamsey crisis. Ing Kenneth Ashigbey’s demand for a probe is not an optional suggestion; it is a necessary prerequisite for any serious anti-galamsey strategy. The public and media must now watch closely: will the investigation be a superficial review, or a deep, fearless pursuit that follows the evidence to the boardrooms, bank accounts, and government offices that enable this trade? The environmental future of Ghana—its clean water, its arable land, its forests—depends on the answer. This is a test of whether the state’s apparatus is designed to protect the nation’s patrimony or to be circumvented by those who profit from its destruction. The 14 containers are not just metal and hydraulics; they are a mirror reflecting the strength or weakness of Ghana’s governance and its commitment to leaving a livable environment for future generations.

Sources and Further Reading

The analysis and statements in this article are based on the reported remarks of Ing Kenneth Ashigbey as published by Life Pulse Daily on February 17, 2026, and are contextualized within the established legal and environmental framework of Ghana. For verification and