The activities of illegal sand miners in Abazor, near Obom, and its surrounding communities in the Greater Accra region have caused significant damage to acres of farmland belonging to commercial farmers in the area.
These illegal sand miners primarily operate under the cover of night and dawn, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
The affected farmlands include pineapple, pawpaw, mango, and passion fruit farms, many of which have already been destroyed, while others remain under threat. Some of the impacted farms include Gold Coast Farm, Bomart Farm, Pepson Farms, Jei River Farms (all pineapple farms), and Optsim Farm (a mango farm).
Thousands of farmworkers’ livelihoods are at stake, with approximately 600 workers affected on one farm and over 1,300 workers on a passion fruit farm initiative facing uncertainty.
When authorities attempted to address the issue by arresting illegal sand miners on the farmlands of Golden Exotics Limited, they encountered resistance from the armed perpetrators.
The sand miners were armed with guns, machetes, and sticks, outnumbering the police officers from the Tenbibian Police Station. Eventually, with reinforcements from the Accra Regional Police Command, five illegal sand miners were arrested.
Mark Achel, the Corporate Affairs and Administration Manager of Golden Exotics Limited, expressed his concern about the situation.
He noted that the sand miners not only posed a threat to their farms but also engaged in physical attacks and threats against their workers.
The sand miners’ encroachments have led to a reduction in the company’s cultivated land area, impacting their pineapple cultivation and plans for intensive passion fruit farming.
Golden Exotics Limited, which has been farming in the area for 34 years, has invested over $10 million in the region, including accommodations for workers, offices, farmhouses, irrigation dams, and a pump station.
The company’s long-term investments are now jeopardized due to the ongoing illegal sand mining activities.