The Akyem Abuakwa Stool Land Protection Agency says the police is complicit in the activities of illegal sand wining and continuous terrorizing of some residents within the Akyem Abuakwa State.

According to the traditional leaders, 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 its catchment area.

The claim the group have been parading land guards in the area under the pretence that, their activities has been sanctioned by the Okyenhene. 

Nananoom upon receiving the complaint 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.

Nananoom averred that, Atsu Forson could not provide any permit from the Environmental Protection Agency nor Minerals Commission.  

Further checks at the Minerals Commission and Environmental Protection Agency revealed that, Summertide Company Ltd was operating illegally.

As a result, Nananoom petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to take action and stop the illegal sand wining activities.

At a press conference, the Akyem Abuakwa State Secretary, Daniel Marfo Ofori Atta disclosed that the Akyem Abuakwa Stool Land Protection Agency and the Okyeman Environmental Protection Taskforce followed up to the affected communities to ascertain whether or not Sand wining activities were ongoing.

However, they were greeted by some gun-wielding hoodlums who fired several gunshots at the chiefs and members of the Taskforce. But they managed to arrest four of the thugs and handed them over to the police.

Mr Ofori Atta said Atsu Forson and his hoodlums after violently attacking Nananoom and their team hurriedly rushed to the Eastern Regional Police Command to file a complaint of kidnapping among other offence against Nananoom who were said to be lawfully protecting the environment and lives of others. 

He admitted the Stool Land Protection Agency, led by Barimah Twum Tebrade II, went to the bush with a registered gun but they did not exchange fire with the land guards who confronted them.

He explained that the gun-wielding hoodlums rather opened fire on the task force after they accosted four people illegally wining sand in the area.

He expressed Nananoom's disappointment over the response of the Ghana Police Service on the issue of illegal sand wining activities within the Akyem Abuakwa State.

Daniel alleged that a police vehicle from the Adeiso Police Station, fully occupied by officers have been complementing security for the illegal sand wining activities undertaking by Summertide Company.

He hinted that Nananoom will endeavour to protect their lands and subjects from all illegal activities if the police cannot do more.

He emphasised that the Okyenhene has not sold nor leased any land within the Akyem Abuakwa State to Summertide 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.