Five K!lled in Nsawam Sand War: Police Probe Bloody Land Dispute

A v!olent clash over sand mining rights in the Nsawam area has left five people dead, prompting an urgent investigation by the Eastern South Regional Police Command.

The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Asiyaw, near Akwane-Dobro. According to a police statement, a forensic team dispatched to the scene found the lifeless bodies of five adult males, all bearing gunshot wounds.

The confrontation is believed to have been a deadly shootout between two rival groups vying for control of lucrative sand-winning operations in the area—an issue that has long sparked community tension and conflict.

Police recovered several items from the scene, including a Toyota Tacoma, a Toyota Tundra, five heavy-duty motorbikes, a pump-action shotgun loaded with 17 live cartridges, four spent cartridges, three empty 7.62/39mm shells, and one 9mm shell—evidence pointing to the use of multiple firearms during the deadly encounter.

The bodies of the deceased have been transported to the Police Hospital mortuary in Accra for preservation, identification, and autopsy.

Illegal sand mining, commonly referred to as “sand winning,” has become a growing source of disputes across parts of Ghana, with rival groups often clashing over access to extraction sites. Environmental damage, regulatory gaps, and local economic pressures have only fueled the problem.

Authorities have expressed concern about the rising violence linked to the practice. The police have assured the public that a thorough probe is underway and that those responsible will be brought to justice.

The Eastern South Regional Police Command is also appealing to the public for information that could aid in the ongoing investigation.

As the community reels from the loss, many residents are calling for stricter enforcement and tighter regulation of sand winning activities to prevent further bloodshed.