Farmers and youth leaders at Kokofu-Essiase in the Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region have launched a passionate appeal to government and security agencies to urgently clamp down on illegal sand winning activities that have devastated vast farmlands in the community.
The once-fertile farmlands, which have for years supported the cultivation of yam, plantain, and other staple crops, are now being destroyed by sand winners who operate with impunity, both during the day and at night. The development has left many farmers in despair as their primary source of livelihood and food production continues to be wiped away.
According to information gathered by Newsmen, the illegal operators are allegedly backed by some traditional authorities who release lands to them and provide protection through land guards. This has emboldened the perpetrators, making it nearly impossible for affected farmers to resist or seek redress.
At a press conference, youth leader Mr. Samuel Agyei led the charge in condemning the destruction and called for immediate government intervention. He warned that the continuous destruction of farms without compensation was pushing the community to the brink of unrest. “We cannot sit and watch our farmlands being destroyed in broad daylight. These sand winners are destroying our future, and if authorities do not act, we the youth will be forced to protect our lands ourselves,” he declared.
Some affected farmers, who recounted their losses, described the situation as heartbreaking. They revealed how years of investment and hard work had been wiped out within weeks, leaving them with no means to provide for their families. The farmers stressed that beyond personal loss, the menace threatens food security in the municipality and the region at large.
The residents are therefore demanding swift action from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ghana Police Service, and the Bekwai Municipal Assembly to halt the illegal activities before the situation escalates further. They insist that the survival of their community depends on preserving farmlands for agricultural purposes rather than allowing them to be destroyed for selfish gains.
Illegal sand winning has in recent years emerged as a major environmental and socio-economic challenge in the Ashanti Region. With Kokofu-Essiase now at the center of the crisis, the call from farmers and youth leaders is a wake-up call for government and all stakeholders to act decisively in order to protect livelihoods and safeguard the future of the community.
