Danger looms in Gomoa East, as illegal sand mining threatens lives

Intensive illegal sand mining activities along the beachfront of the Gomoa East District in the Central Region are posing a severe threat to the lives and properties of residents, as most of the natural coastal buffers have already been depleted.

The situation has triggered fears of an impending disaster, with experts warning that a single major tidal wave could sweep away the remaining land, including estate bungalows and other nearby facilities.

Authorities have issued a strong caution to those behind the illegal activity, urging them to stop immediately or face prosecution. During a visit to the affected area on Tuesday, the Central Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Emmanuel Kwesi Dawood Mensah, expressed deep concern over the level of environmental destruction caused by the relentless sand-winning operations.

Mr. Dawood warned that if urgent measures are not taken, the phenomenon could lead to devastating consequences for both the environment and coastal communities. He called on traditional leaders, particularly the chiefs of Gomoa Fetteh and Yesukrom, the Millennium City Landlords Association, as well as security agencies in Gomoa East and Awutu Senya East, to collaborate with NADMO in tackling the problem.

Describing the situation as “a ticking time bomb,” Mr. Dawood urged stakeholders to volunteer as disaster prevention officers and work hand-in-hand with NADMO to address what he called “a disaster in waiting.”

In a related development, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Gomoa East, Margaret Naana Ackon, has vowed to clamp down on illegal sand miners in the area. Speaking to the media, she warned that individuals caught engaging in sand mining would face the full rigors of the law, regardless of their political affiliations.

She further revealed that her office is working with security agencies to intensify patrols along the coastline in order to apprehend offenders. The DCE also appealed to traditional authorities to support efforts to curb the destructive activity before it escalates into a full-blown environmental crisis.

Gomoa East, located in Ghana’s Central Region, has become one of the hardest-hit coastal areas suffering from human-induced environmental degradation. Illegal sand mining, often driven by real estate demand, has eroded natural barriers, leaving communities exposed to flooding, tidal waves, and sea erosion.