A deadly dispute over sand winning has left five people dead in Asiyaw, a community near Akwane-Dobro in the Eastern Region, prompting swift police action and the arrest of four suspects.
The Eastern South Regional Police Command, in a statement released to the Ghana News Agency, confirmed the arrests of Samuel Atsu Forson (alias Alanyo), Freeheart Kweku Sedonu, Kwesi Prince, and Benjamin Adzalekor, all of whom are believed to be involved in the fatal shooting incident that occurred on April 29, 2025.
According to police sources, the violence erupted during a clash between two rival groups engaged in a dispute over sand winning rights in the area—a growing source of conflict in several parts of Ghana due to its environmental and commercial implications.
The suspects were arraigned before the Osino District Court on May 2, where the presiding judge ordered that Forson, Sedonu, and Prince be remanded into prison custody, while Adzalekor was placed in police custody. The case has been adjourned to May 8, 2025.
The Police Command has assured the public of a thorough investigation and fair legal process. “We want to reassure the public that justice will be pursued in accordance with the law,” the statement read.
The incident has once again brought to light the dangers of unchecked sand mining activities and the urgent need for clearer regulation and conflict resolution mechanisms in resource-rich but vulnerable communities.
