Tragedy struck at a sand mining site in Asiyaw as a violent shooting claimed the lives of at least five people during a peace negotiation intended to resolve the growing conflict surrounding illegal sand extraction.
The deadly incident occurred while farmers and local residents, who have been protesting the destructive impact of unauthorized sand mining on their farmlands and crops like pawpaw, cassava, and maize, convened to discuss potential resolutions.
The Adonteng division boundary chief of the Akuapem Traditional area and his delegation had arrived at the mining site to mediate the dispute, responding to the increasing concerns raised by the community regarding the environmental damage caused by the sand mining activities.
However, their efforts to broker peace were shattered when armed assailants, allegedly acting on the orders of a local figure identified as Togbe and Alanyo, opened fire on the assembled group.
The brutal attack resulted in the immediate deaths of five individuals and plunged the area into chaos, significantly escalating the already high tensions in the region surrounding the contentious issue of illegal sand mining. The incident underscores the volatile nature of the conflict and the urgent need for decisive action to address the root causes of the dispute.
