The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has vowed to maintain a permanent presence at the country’s ports following the interception of more than 1,000 illegal mining machines at Tema Port.

The authority says relying on tip-offs alone is no longer sufficient to prevent the importation of banned equipment.

Professor Michael Ayamga-Adongo, Acting Deputy CEO of the EPA, told Joy News that the seizure was “a wake-up call” for the agency. He said the EPA is rethinking its approach to front-line monitoring at ports.

“We feel that at EPA, we need to intensify our presence at the ports and ensure that our people are at the front line looking out for these things and not merely rely on tips and intelligence. This is a wake-up call, and we are all alarmed by it,” he said.

The seizure relates to small motorised dredging machines, commonly known in mining communities as “trucks,” which were illegally imported despite an EPA ban issued on October 29, 2025.

The ban prohibits the fabrication, importation, distribution, and sale of these machines, which are often used in illegal mining operations, also known as galamsey.

Professor Ayamga-Adongo visited the port on the instructions of the EPA CEO to verify the seizure and oversee documentation.

Officials are now conducting an import test to trace the origin of the machines and gather evidence for legal action against the importers.

“Investigations are ongoing, and we are working through the documentation process to identify and prosecute those responsible,” he said.

Previously, interceptions largely depended on intelligence provided by the National Security or other agencies, raising concerns about the authority’s ability to independently detect large-scale smuggling operations.

The EPA says further arrests and prosecutions are expected as the investigation continues.