The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ketu South, Maxwell Kofi Lugudor has warned contractors to desist from engaging in illegal sand winning within the municipality.

Mr Lugudor, speaking to some contractors in the presence of personnel from the Forestry Commission around Nogokpo Hadikukope said contractors without valid documentation will be prosecuted.

He noted that the law has permitted sand winning activities by companies and individuals who have met the proper requirements from the Minerals Commission to practice. 

“I am also aware that people involved in sand winning do not have legal documentation for their activities and so should desist from mining illegally, “Mr Lugudor added. 

About 30 acres of destroyed lands due to activities of the Tipper Truck Owners and Drivers Association are being reclaimed by the municipality with the efforts of the Association. 

“As you can see, all the machines are working to reclaim the land destroyed by sand winners with impunity and that is what we are doing. We decided to do it all over so that we put the degraded land back to shape,” Mr Lugudor said. 

According to the Ketu South MCE, the Forestry Commission will be involved in the planting of trees such as acacia and coconut to help the locals earn some income from the produce of these trees.

The Chairman of the Tipper Truck Owners and Drivers Association, Epiphany Klutsey in an interview with the media noted that his colleagues are working on their documents to enable them legally continue with their sand winning activities.

“Initially, we thought because the lands belong to us, we could use it how we wanted, but now we know better and will do the right thing and protect the environment, “Mr Klutsey said.