The Ayensuano District Assembly in collaboration with the Ayensuano District Security Committee, DISEC in the Eastern Region has placed a temporary ban on all sand winning activities in the district until further notice.

The decision became necessary after the Management of Ayensuano District Assembly and the Ayensuano Sand Winners Association had a meeting on Thursday, January 11, 2024.

The Assembly noted that the decision was necessitated after a careful consideration of the ongoing challenges posed by sand winning activities and the blatant disregard for established regulations by culminating into the destruction of farmlands and the creation of tensions within the communities which threatens the peace and stability that the district enjoys.

In an interview at Kraboa Coaltar in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region, the District Chief Executive, DCE, Josephine Awuku Ansaa Inkoom, noted that the issue of sand winning in the district has been a headache for the Assembly since she resumed office as the activities poses serious security threat to people in the area especially landowners.

However, on Monday, 16th September, 2024 at midnight residents at Samson Panpanso No. 2 in the Teacher Mante area were awoken by sporadic gun shots by landguards supervising the winning of sand by illegal sand winners.

According to information gathered, the landguards numbering about ten(10) and allegedly led by one ‘One Million’, Yaw Okisi and another Sakyiama Offei accompanying heavy duty machines and tipper trucks entered an oil palm plantation and nearby lands to cause destruction. Plantain and cassava farms and an erected fence wall have all been destroyed with this illegal activity posing a danger to food security and safety.

Speaking to some residents, several calls to the Teacher Mante police to stop the activites of these sand winners have proved futile as the officers are afraid and reluctant in fighting the menace.

One resident said the landguards and a particular Chief in the area come round openly telling them they will be winning sand on their lands and nothing can stop them.

This illegal activity has ressurected in the midst of the ongoing fight against Galamsey in most parts of the country.

The Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service led by Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, Ayensuano District Security Committee and other security agencies are being called on to take steps in stopping this illegal activity and challenges posed by sand winning activities and the blatant disregard for established regulations by culminating into the destruction of farmlands and the creation of tensions within the communities which threatens the peace and stability that the district enjoys.

Wohonsem.com