Infinity Star, Rich Arrow and Situ Wambi responsible for activities of Land Degradation in our Community – Residents of Penyi

Residents of Penyi in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region have appealed for the intervention of the Municipal Assembly so as to stop sand winning activities in their community.

The residents say the operations of 3 entities – Infinity Star, Rich Arrow and Situ Wambi companies in the enclave, is causing the rapid degradation of the land and the total destruction of farmlands within their community.

They believe the situation could result in environmental issues for the area if not checked in time.

In a petition signed by lawyer for the traditional council, Ernest Agbesi Normenyo, and addressed to the Ketu North Municipal Chief Executive, Dr. Anthony Avorgbedor, and copied to relevant institutions and the media, the residents questioned the authority of the said companies to win sand in the Penyi area in the manner they were doing it without any regards to the reclamation of the lands and the environment.

“In as much as we are at liberty to enjoy the limited resources available at our disposal now, we are also mandated to put them to use in a manner that would afford the future and unborn generations the opportunity to benefit from the same scarce resources – it is our collective responsibility to safeguard our environment and lands as we stand the risk of destroying and losing our lands to these sand winning activities if we don’t act immediately,” the petition stated.

The residents further called on the MCE to cause a thorough investigation into these “illegal activities” and to find a way of dealing with it to prevent it from degenerating into chaos as the residents, especially the youth, have vowed to unleash their wrath on any individual or business entity found engaging in sand winning on their lands, should they be allowed to continue with their operations.

Meanwhile, the Ketu North MCE, on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, held a meeting at the Assembly, with the Chiefs and stakeholders of the Penyi traditional area led by their Paramount Chief Torgbi Dadzi V.

It was to address the concerns raised by the residents and to deliberate on the way forward on the issue.

It was agreed at the meeting that a second look be taken into the matter in the interest of peace and security.

The traditional council was urged to re-engage the affected companies who were said to have legally purchased the lands in question from individuals and families from the same Penyi community, with legal documents also issued to them by the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), authorizing them to carry out their object of trade in the enclave.

A visit to the area by Ghananewsonline.com.gh confirmed the concerns raised by the residents, as we saw very deep trenches, much like artificial valleys left behind as a result of the sand winning activities, a situation if not promptly addressed could lead to the total destruction of the community.

By Leo Nelson || Ghananewsonline.com.gh