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A peace-building effort aimed at ending illegal sand mining activities in the Asiyaw community turned tragic on Thursday when unidentified gunmen opened fire on traditional leaders and residents, killing five people and injuring several others.
The shooting occurred at a disputed sand-winning site in the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality, where local farmers, traditional leaders, and concerned citizens had gathered to demand an end to the environmental destruction caused by illegal sand dredging. According to community members, the activity has rendered vast farmlands unproductive, threatening their livelihoods and food security.
The mission, led by the boundary chief of the Adonteng Division under the Akuapem Traditional Area, was intended to initiate dialogue and negotiate a peaceful cessation of the illegal mining. However, eyewitnesses say the delegation was ambushed as it approached the site.
“Without any provocation, armed men began shooting at us,” said one survivor. “People started running. Some were hit instantly. It was terrifying.”
Among those killed were two women, a youth activist, and two men identified as community organizers. Several others sustained critical injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals for emergency care.
Local residents have accused the assailants of working under the directives of individuals identified only as Togbe and Alanyo—names often associated with underground sand-winning operations in the region. The attackers are said to have fled the scene immediately after the assault.
Police from Nsawam and Greater Accra were deployed shortly after the incident. They have since cordoned off the area and commenced a full-scale investigation. A police spokesperson confirmed that preliminary evidence is being analyzed and called on the public to assist with any leads.
“This attack is a serious blow to peace and law enforcement in the area,” said the spokesperson. “We are treating it as a criminal act and will pursue all those involved.”
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from traditional authorities, environmental advocates, and civil society organizations. In a press release, the Akuapem Adonteng Council described the killings as a “shameful act of violence against peace-loving citizens,” urging the government to act swiftly to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The blood of our people cannot be shed in vain,” said one of the elders at a community gathering the following day. “This is not just an attack on a delegation—it is an attack on our right to defend our land and future.”
The Asiyaw community has been at the center of growing tensions between local farmers and illegal miners. Crops like pawpaw, cassava, and maize have been decimated due to unregulated sand-winning activities, prompting calls for government intervention over the past several months.
Environmental analysts have warned that without stringent enforcement of mining regulations and increased community policing, incidents like these could escalate across other parts of the country.
As investigations continue, the people of Asiyaw are left grieving their dead—and hoping that justice and protection will not come too late.
