78 Changfan Machines Destroyed, 20 Arrested in Galamsey Crackdown in Cape Three Points Forest Reserve
A major joint enforcement operation has dealt a significant blow to illegal mining activities threatening Ghana’s first Marine Protected Area, with the destruction of 78 Changfan machines, 106 water pumping units and the arrest of 20 suspects in the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve.
The three-day operation was led by the Takoradi Forestry Services Division in collaboration with the Wildlife Division of the Ankasa Conservation Area and targeted illegal mining hotspots stretching from Tumentu to Princess Town within the ecologically sensitive Cape Three Points landscape.
During the operation, enforcement teams dismantled illegal mining infrastructure across multiple sites.
On day one, 22 Changfan machines, 18 water pumping units and 4 rubber tents were destroyed near Tumentu, while on day two, 41 Changfan machines, 58 water pumping units and 12 rubber tents were destroyed.
On the final day, an additional 15 Changfan machines, 30 water pumping units and 3 rubber tents were destroyed near Princess Town.
In total, 13 suspects arrested during last week’s exercise were arraigned before the court and remanded into prison custody. An additional 7 suspects were arrested during subsequent operations, bringing the total number of arrests to 20.
The crackdown comes amid growing concerns over the impact of galamsey on the Greater Cape Three Points Marine Protected Area, GCTPMPA.
Established in April 2026, the protected area is Ghana’s first MPA and a landmark conservation initiative aimed at restoring fish stocks, protecting marine biodiversity and strengthening the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, working closely with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and other stakeholders, has intensified efforts to safeguard the area from environmental degradation as part of the government’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s marine, coastal and inland aquatic ecosystems through integrated natural resource management.
Commenting on the operation, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur, stressed that protecting Ghana’s fisheries begins with protecting the country’s rivers, forests and coastal ecosystems.
“Illegal mining is not just destroying our forests and rivers; it is destroying the very foundation of Ghana’s fisheries. Polluted rivers and streams eventually flow into the sea, carrying sediments and toxic chemicals that destroy fish habitats, breeding grounds and the ecosystems that sustain both inland and marine fisheries,” she said.
“That is why the fight against galamsey is inseparable from the fight to restore our fisheries. This is particularly critical in the Greater Cape Three Points Marine Protected Area, where healthy freshwater and marine ecosystems are essential to rebuilding fish stocks, conserving biodiversity and securing sustainable livelihoods for our coastal communities. Protecting this Marine Protected Area is therefore not optional; it is essential if we are to safeguard Ghana’s fisheries for present and future generations.”
Environmental experts have warned that illegal mining within the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve poses a direct threat to the success of the MPA.
Rivers and streams originating from the reserve flow into the marine ecosystem, carrying sediments and harmful pollutants that degrade water quality and disrupt fish breeding grounds.
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