Farmers at Kokofu-Essiase in the Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region have raised a red flag over the massive destruction of their farmlands by illegal sand winners, urging government and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to immediately intervene to stop the menace.
The activities of the sand winners, who reportedly operate both during the day and at night, have left several acres of fertile farmlands in ruins. Staple crops such as yam, plantain, and other food crops have been completely destroyed, leaving affected farmers in despair over their source of livelihood.
According to reports gathered by Akoma News, some chiefs in the area are allegedly complicit in the activities, releasing lands to sand winners and placing them under the protection of land guards. This has emboldened the operators, who now conduct their activities openly without fear of arrest.
At a press conference, youth leader of Kokofu-Essiase, Mr. Samuel Agyei, condemned the devastation caused by the sand winners, stressing that the destruction of crops and lands had been carried out without any compensation to the farmers. He described the situation as unacceptable and called for immediate government action to safeguard the livelihoods of the people. “We are demanding the immediate halt of all illegal sand winning activities in Kokofu-Essiase. Our farmers are losing their lands and crops every day, and if nothing is done, food production in this area will collapse,” Mr. Agyei stated.
Some affected farmers also shared harrowing accounts of their losses, narrating how years of hard work on their farms have been wiped away within days due to reckless sand winning. They appealed passionately to authorities, particularly the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Bekwai Municipal Assembly, and the Ghana Police Service, to mount swift operations to flush out the perpetrators before the situation escalates further.
The farmers cautioned that if the illegal activities are not curtailed, it could spark social unrest as the youth and community members may be forced to defend their lands themselves.
The destruction of farmlands by sand winning has become a recurring issue in parts of the Ashanti Region, threatening not only food security but also the ecological balance of affected communities. With Kokofu-Essiase now joining the list of hard-hit areas, residents are hopeful that swift action from government and security agencies will help restore order and protect their future.
