Sand-winning destroys over 50 acres of farmland at Tsumkpo

Over 50 acres of maize, groundnut, pepper and cassava farmland have been lost to sand-winning activities in Tsumkpo, Shai Osudoku District, Greater Accra Region. Affected farmers report their crops are ruined, farmland degraded, and their livelihoods threatened by deep excavations near homes. 92-year-old Samuel Kateinor, a longtime farmer, never imagined such devastation in his lifetime: "We farm and rear animals here, but the people in Tokpo gave the land away to these companies without telling us."

Assembly Member Israel Kweku Animle learned of the issue after hearing from residents. He found some operators had expired permits for sand-winning they were using in a different location. The Assembly sanctioned them, then issued fresh permits. Yet, District Chief Executive Ignatius Godfred Dordoe denied the Assembly ever granted permission for sand-winning in the area. "We told them to get the permit from the Minerals Commission first, but they never came back," he stated.

This contradiction has residents worried. They demand an investigation into the land and ongoing sand-winning. Farmers urge authorities to stop the destruction before it permanently ruins the food and income source for their community.