Illegal Sand Mining: A Study of the Cape Coast- Komenda Coastline, Ghana.

Abstract

In most countries across the globe, sand is an essential resource for economic developmental activities. Despite the huge costs of processing and recovering materials from glacier deposits, flood plains, and river channels, it is vital to the construction and industrial sectors. The study assessed illegal sand mining along the Cape Coast – Komenda, Ghana. Mixed methods which included quantitative and qualitative methods such as interview schedule survey, interviews, observation and focus group discussions were used to obtain data from three communities along the coastline of the Central Region of Ghana (Bantuma Mbofra-Akyinim, Ankwanda and Ola). The multi-stage sampling technique was used to select these communities while convenience sampling was used to select respondents (388) which included tipper truck drivers, tricycle riders, masons, fishmongers, fishermen and residents who have stayed in these communities for more than five years. Purposive sampling was used to select officials who were knowledgeable in sand mining issues from regulatory bodies such as NADMO, KEEA Municipal, CCMA, MC and the EPA. The study found out that the respondents gave reasons for which they engage in sand mining activities. Some of these reasons included the source of income, free gift of nature, urbanization and population increase. The respondents also admitted that these activities come with some repercussions such as retreat of the shoreline, pollution, introduction to health hazards and the destruction of roads and bridges by heavy duty vehicles. Government agencies also face numerous setbacks such as the limited resources for management, unclear responsibilities among stakeholders, weak coordination against local authorities, inadequate legal framework and interference from high-ranking government officials. This research concludes that illegal sand mining in its present condition is unsustainable and the government agencies are losing their firm grip on the issue.