Sand winners operating along the Lower Volta River have questioned the government's approach to regulating their activities, alleging that military personnel are destroying their equipment despite an ongoing engagement and sensitisation process initiated by the authorities.

The operators, who work in communities including Tefle, Sogakope, Adidome, Battor and Aveyime in the Volta Region, as well as Volivo in the Greater Accra Region, say the alleged destruction of their equipment has disrupted their businesses and threatened the livelihoods of hundreds of people.

Speaking on behalf of the 3,500 affected operators, founder and convener of the Lower Voter Association of Small-Scale Miners and Farmers, Godwin Ogah-Awude, said a joint task force had been established as part of the government's efforts to engage and sensitise operators on the appropriate procedures for their activities.

He explained that the engagement was intended to educate operators on the government's directives and guide them on how to regularise their operations.

However, he expressed concern that military personnel were allegedly carrying out destructive operations against members of the association while the engagement process was still underway.

Ogah-Awude alleged that some personnel in military uniforms had vandalised equipment and subjected operators to physical harm, describing the development as a threat to their investments and livelihoods.

He maintained that the operators were willing to engage the authorities and comply with applicable regulations but wanted the government to address their concerns through dialogue rather than the destruction of their equipment.



One of the affected operators, Ezekiel Kelly, who has been involved in sand winning at Battor for about 15 years, said military personnel destroyed two of his machines despite his efforts to move them to safety following an earlier warning.

According to him, the operators were instructed to remove their machines and pipes ahead of the operation, prompting them to move the equipment to the shore.

He alleged that the personnel subsequently dismantled some equipment, broke pipes and set his two machines ablaze.

Kelly said the destruction had left him uncertain about how to support his 12 workers, whom he normally paid every Saturday.

He said the workers had since been calling him regularly for information about the future of their employment.

He appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and help restore their businesses, insisting that sand winning had contributed significantly to the livelihoods and educational advancement of many residents in the area.

Kelly also disputed suggestions that their operations were illegal, arguing that dredging helped remove accumulated sand and silt from the river, thereby improving water flow into nearby communities.

Another operator, Dunyo Yayra, who has been involved in the business for three years, said the destruction had placed her livelihood at risk.

She said she depended on the business to support herself and her family and appealed to the government to intervene.

According to her, military personnel set their equipment ablaze without adequately explaining the reasons for the action.

The operators also rejected suggestions that their dredging activities were responsible for pollution of the Volta River.

Ogah-Awude argued that changes in the river's turbidity could also result from rainfall and the movement of water from tributaries and other streams that feed into the Volta River.

He maintained that their activities were primarily aimed at removing accumulated sand and silt to facilitate the free movement of water towards the sea.

The association's convener further argued that the operators were already undertaking activities similar to those being assigned to private companies engaged in dredging, insisting that local operators should also be given opportunities to participate under properly regulated arrangements.

He acknowledged that some members had begun processes to obtain the necessary permits but complained that the recent operations appeared to have been carried out without checking their documentation or giving them an opportunity to explain their individual circumstances.

The operators are therefore calling for greater coordination between the government's engagement process and enforcement operations, alongside clear guidelines on the regulatory requirements governing their activities.

They insist that efforts to regulate sand winning and address illegal mining should take into consideration the economic impact on communities whose livelihoods depend heavily on the industry.