Five persons have been shot dead at a sand-winning site in Asiyaw, located in the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality of the Eastern Region, in a dispute over sand-winning rights.
The tragic incident took place during an attempted meeting intended to address escalating tensions from illegal sand mining activities, which local farmers claim are damaging their farmlands and jeopardising food production.
Crops such as cassava, maize, and pawpaw have reportedly been severely impacted due to the illegal mining activities.
In response to a series of complaints from the community members, the boundary chief of the Adonteng Division of the Akuapem Traditional Area, accompanied by his subjects, visited the site to arbitrate the matter.
Upon their arrival at the site, the situation escalated when armed men, reportedly acting under the direction of individuals named Togbe and Alanyo, opened fire on the chief’s delegation. The chaos that ensued resulted in the tragic loss of at least five lives.
Meanwhile, the Eastern South Regional Police Command has launched a full-scale investigation into the Tuesday deadly shooting incident.
According to a statement issued by the police, a crime scene team dispatched to the area found the bodies of five male adults with gunshot wounds, sparking fears of escalating violence linked to illegal sand winning operations in the enclave.
The police recovered several items from the scene, including one Toyota Tacoma vehicle, one Toyota Tundra vehicle, one pump action gun with 17 live cartridges, four empty cartridges, three 7.62/39mm empty shells, one 9mm empty shell, five heavy-duty motorbikes
Preliminary investigations point to a violent confrontation between two rival groups allegedly fighting over sand mining activities at the location.
The bodies of the deceased have been transported to the Police Hospital mortuary in Accra for preservation, identification, and autopsy.
Police say efforts are underway to track down and arrest the perpetrators behind the violence.
