They were were arrested on Thursday
Three landguards who are illegal sand winners allegedly undertook sand-winning operations without a license at Bernganor, located at Old Ningo in the Ningo Prampram District of the Greater Accra Region. They have been arrested and arraigned before the law court at Gbetsile in the Kpone-Katamanso District.
The three individuals, along with a military officer from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) who was wearing a military-patterned uniform, were arrested on Thursday, October 3, 2024, on land belonging to Seamless International Limited/Comet Properties Limited.
Their arrest followed a tip-off about ongoing illegal activities on the land of Seamless International Limited/Comet Properties Limited at Old Ningo-Bernganor.
A video intercepted confirmed how the suspects, including the military officer, were arrested and packed into a vehicle at the illegal sand-winning site at Ningo-Bernganor by police officers.
Shockingly, further investigations revealed that the military officer who was arrested was hired by an illegal sand-winning contractor to provide security for the landguards/winners.
The military man was protecting these individuals to engage in illegal sand-winning activities, which pose a serious threat to the ongoing Atlantic Beachfront Resorts and Residential Master-Planned City, commonly known as the Comet Marina.
This news outlet was reliably informed that this exercise will continue, with the culprits prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
The four arrested were arraigned before the court on Friday, October 4, 2024, but since the court could not sit, they were remanded in police custody to reappear before the court on Monday, October 7, 2024.
The accused persons have been charged with causing unlawful damage and mining without a license.
Meanwhile, Akua Afriyie, who speaks for the developer, Seamless International Limited/Comet Properties Limited, lamented that the illegal sand mining is threatening the Prampram beachfront housing project, where a developer is constructing the Atlantic Beachfront Resorts and Residential Master-Planned City.
According to the developer, the future of the project is at risk if the ongoing "illegal" sand mining in the area continues.
Akua Afriyie said the project, which is an addition to Ghana's upscale real estate market, is facing significant disruptions as a result of the illegal sand mining activities in the area.
Akua Afriyie highlighted the environmental damage caused by the mining, including excavation to depths of 10 to 20 feet across approximately 21 acres.
She indicated that the total cost of waste and destruction to the environment will be GH₵55 million before the developers can fully reclaim their land.
“The unauthorized sand mining has reportedly been taking place under the cover of darkness,” she added.
Madam Afriyie warned of potential severe erosion, long-term ecological damage, and safety risks to the 400-acre project site, which is planned to feature sea-front hotels, apartments, restaurants, and a gated community with lagoons and rivers.
The company has therefore called for enhanced security measures and urgent intervention from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
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