Sand winning at beaches in the Central Region is not only destroying the environment but also hotels, restaurants and other investments along the coast.  The inhabitants are, therefore, appealing to the Regional Police Command and the Environmental Protection Agency to assist in curbing the practice so as to save the Region from possible loss of beach front properties.

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CAPE COAST: Sand winners destroy beaches in C/R

Sand winning at beaches in the Central Region is not only destroying the environment but also hotels, restaurants and other investments along the coast.  The inhabitants are, therefore, appealing to the Regional Police Command and the Environmental Protection Agency to assist in curbing the practice so as to save the Region from possible loss of beach front properties.


Date Created : 4/11/2014 11:22:37 AM : Story Author : GhanaDistrict.Com

Sand winning at beaches in the Central Region is not only destroying the environment but also hotels, restaurants and other investments along the coast.  The inhabitants are, therefore, appealing to the Regional Police Command and the Environmental Protection Agency to assist in curbing the practice so as to save the Region from possible loss of beach front properties.

Sand mining occurs when people win sand from the beaches, mainly for construction purposes. This activity is considered as illegal, but the people have persisted.

In the Central Region, coastal tourism is perceived as a major potential for job creation, but the sector is being destroyed.

From Moree in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese District to Elmina in the Komenda Edna Eguafo-Abirem District, sand winning is on the ascendency.

Over 70 tipper trucks load sand from these beaches every day, thereby destroying the beauty of the beaches.

sand 1In Cape Coast and Elmina, as well as its surrounding coastal communities, where tourism is a major part of the local economy, sand mining has contributed to the degradation of the land that is evident on most of the beaches.

While the sand miners are making money, beach front tourism facility owners also have to spend huge sums of their revenue for ad-hoc sea defence projects, sometimes losing their entire investments.

Some of the investors who have invested along these beaches told The Chronicle that they are completely disappointed because their investments are going down the drain as a result of the sand winning activities.

The investors noted that though the trucks collecting the sand pass through police barriers, they are not questioned. This, they continued, has emboldened the sand winners to continue with the environmental degradation.