As a first timer to the Asutuari end of the volta lake, seeing a man dive into the lake and surfacing with a bucket of which content he empties unto a boat, did not look strange from a distance. It looked like a fishing expedition especially because it was happening near a fish farming pond. But upon getting closer, i saw something else.

I saw boat-loads of sand dug from the depths of the Volta lake.

 

The young men who were briskly carrying out their sand winning activities assured me there was nothing to worry about as their activities will not affect the lake adversely.

One of the sand winners, Solomon Kwajo explained that they have at least 5 different kinds of sand from the lake.

“We have smooth sand, black sand, gravels, block sand and chippings and we know where to get what kind of sand.

 

According to the sand winners, they have customers who come and buy the sand in tones when they are done.

Another sand winner Solomon, explained that “the gravels sand is the most expensive because it is made up of chippings and sand so users only add cement for building. The black sand is used at the harbor in vessels and ships.”

It is an ardious task to win sand in the lake but of more concern is how these activities can harm the lake. The sand winners claim their continues activity will not make the lake any deeper as I thought.

Not far from the site where i found the manual sand winners was a company that is using heavy equipment mounted in the lake to win sand. I did not get the opportunity to speak to operators because they were unavailable.

The sand winning activity provides job avenue for many youths in the area but there are risks involved. 20 year old Charlotte Kwajo told me how her “neck and whole body aches terribly at close of everyday”.

Women and young ladies carry the sand from the boat to the dumping ground and every moment is important as they are paid per the number of head pans they carry. They get as little as 5 cedis daily for all the hard work.

Though the sand winners are sure their activities don't affect the lake in anyway, I hope the Environmental Protection agency will act now.