Sand-winning destroys over 50 acres of farmland at Tsumkpo

A devastating incident has occurred at Tsumkpo in the Shai Osudoku District, where over 50 acres of farmland cultivated with maize, groundnuts, pepper, and cassava have been destroyed due to sand-winning activities. Farmers in the affected area have expressed their distress and fear for their livelihoods, as the destruction of standing crops and farmland leaves them struggling to feed themselves and their families.

A 92-year-old farmer, Samuel Kateinor, recounted his decades of farming and animal rearing in the area, only to witness the land being taken away by outsiders without their consent. He accused the operators of obtaining sand from a dried-up dam without first seeking permission from the community. Another farmer, Godwin Adjaotor, lost part of his three-acre farm to the destructive excavations, which happened overnight, causing the affected farmers to face starvation.

Assembly Member for the area, Israel Kweku Animle, confirmed that he had visited the farms following complaints and found that the operators had permits, but they were invalid. The Assembly subsequently authorized new permits, while simultaneously engaging with the community over the activities. Tetteh Doku, a resident, expressed the growing concerns of the people and pleaded for immediate intervention to halt further damage.

The District Chief Executive for Shai Osudoku, Ignatius Godfred Dordoe, denied that the Assembly had granted permission for sand-winning in the affected area. He stated that a Chinese company was initially evicted from operating, but another company called Ali Ali was directed to obtain a permit from the Minerals Commission, which they never did.

The conflicting information surrounding the permits has left the community in a state of confusion and worry. Residents have called upon authorities to stop the destruction of farmland, investigate the situation, and clarify the ownership claims and permit statuses to prevent further degradation of the area and the loss of their primary source of food and income.