Booming sand business along Elmina beach
There is a booming sand business along the beach of Elmina which is threatening the coastline, damaging the otherwise beautiful shore and making a dent on the recreational function of the beach as well as proceeds that could inure to the country’s tourism industry.
Residents have besieged the beach for sand dug up from construction work on the sea defence project ongoing in Elmina to stop the marauding sea waves and selling it out, saying they need to make ends meet.
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Their activities are, nonetheless, posing a danger to the ecology as no one is even ensuring that they are strictly collecting the sand scooped from the shore to make room for the sea defence project.
Further, the situation is compounded by the non-observance by the sand winners to the safety protocols needed to be observed in the wake of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
During a visit by the Daily Graphic it was noticed that people sat together conversing casually without face masks, while several children also played together without any precautionary measures as several tricycles took sand from the place to the sites of buyers.
Business
Block factories at the beach
Enquiries revealed that a tricycle trip of sand costs GH₡20 or GH₡15 depending on one’s bargaining abilities. Other buyers buy them in bigger trucks.
Children as young as 13 were seen in groups heaping the sand, selling it and sharing the proceeds.
"We are home and not in school so this is one of the ways to get some money before school," they stated.
One of the women who also sold the sand said it was a great support in these trying times of the pandemic.
In the Elmina town itself, several houses had heaps of sand in front of them from the seaside.
While others sold the sand, others said they were using it for cement blocks for their personal buildings.
Police reaction
The Municipal Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police Samuel Entsuah Annan, said his communication with the company undertaking the sea defence project indicated they were not going to use the sand.
We understand the sand was taken and heaped there by the company undertaking the sea defence to enable them to place the boulders.
"We have gone to the place to sack them and warned them not to take the sand but they keep coming back’’, he said.
EPA
However, the Central Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Mr Shine Fiagome, told the Daily Graphic that taking sand from the beach was not the way to go.
He said the activities had died down when the EPA went to the site.
Mr Fiagome said apart from the health implications the activities could also have dire environmental consequences.
He said it was no secret that climate change had caused sea levels to rise and any form of sand winning could have devastating effects on the coastal communities. "These communities could be wiped off in the near future considering the strength of the sea.
"The saying that you can't cheat nature is still true and if they the perpetrators don't experience the negative effects of what they are doing today their children or children's children will experience it. It must be stopped," he stated.
Disastrous effect
The issue of sand winning over the years has accelerated the effects of the sea on coastal communities. Tidal waves are becoming stronger and several coastal communities are feeling the effects.
A lot of coastal communities are being washed away. One of such that has lost over 50 houses in recent times is Ekon in Cape Coast.
Some of the residents loading sand into vehicles
Influential backing
Mr Fiagome said fighting the menace had become a complicated issue.
“We have all sorts of influential people backing some of these people and it sometimes makes things difficult for us. Taking sand away from the beaches is prohibited.
"We don't even give permits for people to officially win sand at the beaches. Winning sand at the beaches is a no no," he reiterated.
He said the EPA, however, did not have the power to arrest. “We collaborate with the police and we will continue to do so to get the laws enforced,” he stated.
He added that the agency would continue to engage particularly chiefs on the dangers of such activities on the communities and urge them to support the campaign.
Mr Fiagome said the EPA was looking at the holistic picture of protecting the beaches and not only to tackle sand winning.
"There are issues such as open defecation, block factories at the beaches and dumping of refuse which are all prohibited,” he said.
Last week the EPA erected sign posts along the same stretch in Elmina and other coastal communities warning perpetrators against such behaviour and educated residents.
Contractors
Mr Fiagome said there were sand winning contractors who had been given permits to win sand, and that residents who needed sand must buy from them.
It is not like they don't have an alternative. They are supposed to buy and not just to take from the beaches for free.
He said while the sea defence projects were good the country might lose the recreational side of our beaches and this would affect the hospitality industry greatly.
He, therefore, called on all stakeholders to join the fight.
"It is a fight for all and one institution cannot win this fight," he added.
