Forests Under Siege: Dorfor Paramount Chief Raises Alarm Over Rampant Illegal Sand Winning

The Paramount Chief of the Dorfor Traditional Area, Togbega Anati Kode Duagbor, has issued an urgent call for state intervention as illegal sand winning activities continue to devastate forest lands and farmlands at Fintey Dorfor in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region.

The chief expressed deep concern over what he described as unchecked and unlawful excavation of sand by unknown individuals, believed to be operating mainly under the cover of darkness. The activities reportedly involve the use of heavy-duty trucks and machinery, leaving behind deep pits, destroyed farmlands and severely degraded forest areas.

According to Togbega Anati Kode Duagbor, the continuous illegal sand winning is eroding the community’s already limited fertile land and forest resources, worsening soil erosion and exposing residents to serious environmental risks.

He warned that if the situation is not addressed urgently, Fintey Dorfor risks losing its vast farmlands, which constitute the primary source of livelihood for the largely agrarian population. The chief cautioned that sustained land degradation could result in food shortages, rising unemployment, hunger and the escalation of social vices, including crime.

The Dorfor Paramount Chief has therefore called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Environmental Health Officers, the Lands Commission and the Ghana Police Service to take immediate action to halt the illegal operations. He further appealed to joint security task forces to track down, arrest and prosecute those involved to serve as a deterrent to others.

Togbega Anati Kode Duagbor stressed that the lands of Fintey Dorfor are a critical economic and environmental asset that must be safeguarded, urging authorities to act decisively to protect the community’s environment for present and future generations.