The encroachment on the Lower Volta by various illegal sand winners is causing significant havoc to the river and its surroundings.
Most alarmingly, these illegal sand winners are destroying the ecosystem along the riverbank and contaminating the water source that supplies potable water to communities along the Lower Volta.
These illegal sand winners are expanding and deepening the riverbed to unprecedented levels, posing dangers to inhabitants who rely on the river for subsistence.
To avoid this, the VRA awarded a tender to EKO-H Mediterranean Ltd., based in Israel, to dredge the Lower Volta.
The company later became JSC Mediterranean Ghana Ltd.
Unfortunately, some recalcitrant illegal sand winners who participated in the tender but were unsuccessful, resorted to illegal sand winning in the Lower Volta.
Numerous efforts by the VRA to stop the illegality included a letter from the VRA to the EPA requesting a multistakeholder task force to combat these illegal sand winners.
The task force visited the area to warn illegal sand winners to keep off the Lower Volta.
Some have complied with the task force's instructions.
However, certain Chinese companies, which also participated in the tender but were unsuccessful, have refused to obey the orders and continue operating in the Lower Volta with boldness.
Unfortunately, once again, contractors working on government projects are encouraging this illegality by purchasing river sand from these illegal sand winners, which is a disincentive to the nation.
This vital project offers numerous benefits to residents along the riverbank and the nation.
These benefits are environmental: harvesting aquatic weeds, which is associated with dredging, will eliminate the habitat for the bilharzia vector snails that cause blindness among riverbank inhabitants.
The river channel, creeks, and tributaries clogged with floating and submerged vegetation will be cleared of weeds to give communities easier access to the water.
It will also facilitate the restoration of commercial fishing by allowing sufficient seawater to enter the river, supporting aquatic life thriving in a semi-saline environment.
It will improve water transport of goods and people from the south to the north sections of the Volta River.
This will help reduce congestion on our road network in the Eastern corridor and beyond.
Additionally, dredging will significantly reduce flooding caused by the spillages from the Akosombo and Kpong dams, helping to protect lives, property and agriculture.
For commercial benefits, individual landowners could engage in land leasing.
Dredged areas with free water surfaces could be utilised for aquaculture and pond-culturing to rear oysters, tilapia and among others.
Training in producing organic fertiliser from harvested weeds for agricultural projects and animal husbandry is feasible.
River sand, which is optimal for construction works, will benefit our construction industry.
Illegal sand winning on the Lower Volta must be stopped!
Dr Albert O.A. Tsolu,
Ethnomusicologist/MD, JSC Mediterranean Ghana Ltd.
E-mail: ghansainvest@yahoo.com
