Ghana National Security: 15 Arrested for Kumasi-Accra Expressway Sandwinning

• Fifteen individuals were arrested by National Security in Ghana's Ashanti region for illegal sandwinning activities.
• Six trucks, including a wheel loader, were impounded from the Kumasi–Accra Expressway project site.
• The suspects claimed to have permits from Ejisu Municipality Assembly but failed to provide proof.
• The illicit sand extraction caused considerable damage to the expressway's right of way, impeding national development.
• Authorities are intensifying efforts to locate remaining suspects and increase surveillance along the critical road infrastructure.

This illicit extraction of resources was deemed unacceptable, as it actively hinders national development efforts.

Fifteen individuals were recently apprehended by National Security operatives in Ghana's Ashanti region for their alleged involvement in illegal sandwinning activities. The arrests, which exclusively involved male suspects, took place on Wednesday, October 14, within the Sewua–Donyina–Appiadu enclave, a critical area along the Kumasi–Accra Expressway project.

During the security swoop, six trucks, including a wheel loader, were also seized and impounded. The individuals were reportedly engaged in excavating and removing white sand from the expressway's right of way for commercial gain. Following their apprehension, the suspects were transferred to the national office in Accra, where they are currently in custody pending further investigations by authorities.

Preliminary inquiries by the Bosomtwe District Assembly, as disclosed by District Chief Executive Ing. Abdullah Hamidu, revealed that the sand winners asserted they had obtained authorization from the Ejisu Municipality Assembly for their excavation work. However, these claims could not be substantiated, as the individuals failed to produce any copy of the alleged permit when directed to Mr. Hamidu's office. Consequently, the District Chief Executive issued an immediate order for the operations to cease and subsequently referred the entire matter to the police for comprehensive investigation.

Ivan Bilson Yeboah, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, strongly condemned the illicit activities, emphasizing their detrimental impact on national progress. He highlighted that the unauthorized sandwinning had inflicted significant damage upon the road's infrastructure. This illicit extraction of resources was deemed unacceptable, as it actively hinders national development efforts.

The illegal sandwinning poses a severe threat to the structural integrity and planned development of the Kumasi-Accra Expressway, a vital national infrastructure project. The damage to the right of way, which is essential for the road's construction and long-term viability, raises serious concerns about the sustainability of such critical public works.

In response to these pervasive activities, the regional security council (REGSEC) is scheduled to convene on Thursday to formulate strategies for enhancing surveillance and patrols along the affected stretch of the expressway. This proactive measure aims to curb future illegal operations. Meanwhile, the security forces have intensified their manhunt for additional suspects believed to be involved in the sandwinning, as some individuals remain at large.

Lawyers advising clients on land use, construction, or material extraction in Ghana should note the intensified enforcement against illegal sandwinning, particularly near critical infrastructure projects like the Kumasi-Accra Expressway. This incident underscores the necessity of verifying all permits with the correct municipal authorities to avoid arrests, impoundments, and potential criminal charges for environmental destruction.

Source: Original reporting via Ghanaian news sources.