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What was meant to be a peaceful intervention to halt destructive sand-winning activities in the Asiyaw community turned into a bloodbath on Thursday when unknown gunmen opened fire on a delegation of traditional leaders and residents, killing at least five people and injuring several others.
The tragic incident occurred at a sand-winning site in the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality, where farmers and community leaders had gathered to negotiate a halt to illegal sand mining that has long plagued the area. The meeting, organized by the boundary chief of the Adonteng Division of the Akuapem Traditional Area, was aimed at building consensus on protecting farmlands from further degradation.
Eyewitnesses say the attack happened shortly after the delegation arrived at the site. As the chief and his entourage approached, a group of heavily armed men reportedly emerged and opened fire without warning. “We were just getting ready to speak with the workers there when bullets started flying,” said one shaken resident who escaped unhurt. “People screamed and ran in all directions. It was chaos.”
Local sources allege the assailants were working under the direction of two notorious individuals known only as Togbe and Alanyo, believed to be deeply entrenched in the region’s illegal sand-winning operations. The gunmen quickly fled the scene after the attack.
Among the deceased were two women, a youth leader, and two men who had joined the peace mission. Several others sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving treatment at nearby health facilities. The identities of the deceased have not been officially released pending notification of their families.
In the aftermath, police officers from both the Nsawam and Greater Accra Commands swiftly moved to secure the area, collecting shell casings and interviewing witnesses. A police spokesperson confirmed that an investigation has been launched and assured the public that the perpetrators will be brought to justice. “We urge anyone with credible information to come forward and assist in our investigations,” the spokesperson said.
Traditional authorities have condemned the killings in the strongest terms. The Akuapem Adonteng Divisional Council, in a statement, described the attack as “barbaric and unacceptable,” calling for immediate government intervention to clamp down on illegal sand mining and the criminal networks that support it.
Community leaders say the killings highlight the dangers associated with the unchecked exploitation of natural resources. “We’ve lost lives simply because we wanted to protect our farms and environment,” said a local farmer. “This is a wake-up call to all authorities — we need stronger enforcement, not just promises.”
Environmentalists and civil society groups have also weighed in, urging the government to impose stricter penalties on illegal sand winners and to deploy security personnel to monitor hotspots.
As the community mourns its dead, tensions remain high in Asiyaw. Residents fear more violence if swift action is not taken to arrest those responsible and dismantle the illicit operations fueling the conflict.
The tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the growing threat illegal mining and sand-winning pose to both environmental sustainability and community peace in Ghana.
