The AkyemAbuakwa Stool Land Protection Agency says, the Ghana Police Service hierarchy are complicit in the activities of illegal sand wining and continuous terrorizing of some residents within the AkyemAbuakwa State.
According to Nananom, one Samuel Atsu Forson and his partner Torgbui Agah Semaglo operating under the company name Summertide Company Ltd, have over the period terrorised residents and farmers within Yakooko, Teacher Mante, Ahwerease-Daaman, Amaadi and Kotua Krom, Asuboi and it catchment areas with land guards, under the pretense that, their activities have been sanctioned by the Okyenhene.
Nananoom upon receiving the complaint, reportedly invited Torgbui Agah Semaglo and Samuel Atsu Forson before the Akyem Abuakwa State Council to provide documentation that permit them to undertake sand wining in the area but Atsu Forson could not provide any permit from the Environmental Protection Agency nor the Minerals Commission.
Further checks at the Minerals Commission and Environmental Protection Agency revealed that, Summer tide Company Ltd was operating illegally.
As a result, Nananom petitioned the Inspector General of Police to take action and stop the illegal sand wining activities undertaking by Atsu Forson and his Company Summer tide.
At a press Conference to brief the media on latest development of the activities of illegal sand wining in the Enclave, the Akyem Abuakwa State Secretary, D. M. Ofori Atta explained that, the Akyem Abuakwa Stool Land Protection Agency and the Okyeman Mining Protection Taskforce followed up to the affected communities to ascertain whether Sand wining activities were ongoing or had come to an end.
But, they were greeted with some gun-wielding hoodlums who fired several gunshots at the chiefs and members of the Taskforce who managed to arrest four of the thugs and handed them over to the police.
D M Ofori Atta said, Atsu Forson and his hoodlums after violently attacking Nananom and their team hurriedly rushed to the Eastern Regional Police Command to file a complaint of kidnap among other offence against Nananom who were lawfully protecting the environment and lives of their subjects.
He admitted the Stool Land Protection Agency lead by Barimah Twum Tebrade ll went to the bush with registered gun but was quick to add that they did not exchanged gun fire with the land guards and hoodlums who confronted them in the bush.
He expressed Nananom’s disappointment over the response of the Ghana Police Service on the issue of illegal sand wining activities within the Akyem Abuakwa State.
D M. Ofori Atta alleged that, a Police Vehicle from the Adeiso Police Station filled with police personnel provides protection for the illegal sand wining activities undertaking by the Summer tide Company.
He hinted that Nananom would endeavor to protect their lands and subjects from all illegal activities if the Police can’t protect them.
He said the Okyenhene has not sold or leased any land within the Akyem Abuakwa State to Summer tide Company Ltd for the purposes of Sand wining or any other mining activities, adding that, the Kyebi Divisional Police Command is investigating a case of forgery of signature against Samuel Atsu Forson.
