Mr. Wisdom Seadey, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Keta, has issued a ban on all forms of sand-winning activities within the municipality.
He charged the Police in the area to enforce the law and arrest and prosecute all culprits.
This decision of the MCE was to protect the shores, beaches, and the environment to prevent further degradation of the area by the tidal waves.
Mr. Seadey, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said that the decision was driven by growing environmental concerns which include erosion and loss of land which were attributed to sand winning activities that have been identified as a significant contributor to the challenging issues, which prompted the need for the urgent action.
“I have charged the Police to arrest and prosecute anyone found engaging in sand-winning activities within the municipality. This enforcement measure is intended to deter individuals and companies from violating the ban,” he said.
He explained that the ban on sand winning was part of a broader effort to protect the land and environment of Keta, and the Assembly was committed to finding sustainable solutions to protect the beaches, property, and lives against the environmental challenges facing the municipality.
He said the ban is expected to have a significant impact on the community, particularly those who rely on sand winning for their livelihood, and stated that his administration was working to provide alternative livelihoods and support to affected individuals.
“To those youths that have been engaging in sand winning as their livelihood, l am urging them to come to the assembly, we have better alternatives jobs for them.”
Mr. Seadey said that the assembly was in search of youths and drivers who would use the DRIP machines acquired under the former government to source sand from appropriate places in other districts and sell it to those who may be in need.
He urged all unemployed youths to visit the Youth Employment Agency’s office to apply for jobs that were implemented by the government in the areas of agriculture, apprenticeship, entrepreneurship, among others, to help alleviate the unemployment rate in the municipality.
He said the implementation of the ban would require close collaboration between the municipal authorities, police, and other stakeholders and appealed to the public to provide all necessary information needed by the assembly and the police to apprehend all defaulters who would fail to comply with the directives.
Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr Maxwell Agyemang, Keta Divisional Police Command, assured the commitment to enforce the law to crack down on illegal sand winning, which many described as another form of “galamsey” that destroyed the natural habitat.
Meanwhile, the ban on sand winning has sparked mixed reactions from the communities. While some have welcomed the decision, others have expressed concerns about the impact on their livelihoods and urged the MCE to provide quicker and better alternatives.
Meanwhile, some residents of Kedzikope, Abutsiakope, Vodza, Dzelukope, among others, with whom the GNA engaged, were excited about the ban.
The ban is expected to have numerous environmental benefits, including the reduction of erosion and the protection of natural habitats to preserve the natural beauty of Keta.
Source: GNA
