National Security operatives have arrested 15 individuals over alleged illegal sand-winning activities along the Accra-Kumasi Expressway project site in the Ashanti Region.
The suspects were arrested on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during an operation targeting alleged unauthorised excavation of white sand from the cleared right-of-way of the expressway project.
The operation took place within the Sewua–Donyina–Appiadu enclave in the Bosomtwe District, where the alleged activities have raised concerns about environmental degradation and potential threats to the construction of the major road infrastructure project.
During the swoop, the operatives confiscated six tipper trucks, a wheel loader and other heavy machinery believed to have been used in the excavation and transportation of sand from the project site.
The 15 suspects were subsequently transported to the National Security headquarters in Accra for further questioning and investigation.
The arrests followed the circulation of videos on social media showing individuals allegedly excavating white sand from portions of the land cleared for the Accra-Kumasi Expressway project.
The videos attracted public attention and raised concerns about the use of land within the project’s right-of-way for activities that could undermine construction works.
The alleged sand-winning activities have also brought renewed attention to the need to protect land earmarked for major infrastructure projects against unauthorised excavation and other activities that could compromise their implementation.
The National Security operation resulted in the seizure of vehicles and machinery used in the area, although further details about the identities of the suspects, the quantity of sand excavated and the specific charges under consideration were not immediately available.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged activities and determine whether the suspects violated applicable laws and regulations governing sand winning and the protection of infrastructure project sites.
Meanwhile, the Bosomtwe District Chief Executive, Ing. Abdullah Hamidu, has convened an emergency meeting with local chiefs and assembly members to address the situation.
The meeting focused on concerns about the environmental damage associated with the alleged sand-winning activities and the potential risks they pose to the expressway project.
The engagement also brought local traditional and community representatives into discussions on the need to protect the project site and prevent activities that could interfere with construction.
The involvement of local authorities and traditional leaders is expected to support efforts to address the situation and strengthen community-level cooperation in safeguarding the area.
The alleged excavation of sand from the cleared right-of-way has heightened concerns about the need for effective monitoring of lands designated for major public infrastructure projects.
The Accra-Kumasi Expressway is a major infrastructure project intended to improve road connectivity between Accra and Kumasi, two of Ghana’s principal urban and commercial centres.
With an estimated project cost of $2 billion, the development represents a significant investment in the country’s road transport infrastructure.
Unauthorised excavation within the project’s right-of-way could create challenges for construction and raise environmental and land-management concerns, depending on the location and extent of the activities.
The latest arrests have therefore drawn attention to the importance of protecting the project corridor from activities that could interfere with construction or compromise the integrity of the designated land.
The confiscation of six tipper trucks, a wheel loader and other heavy machinery forms part of the immediate outcome of the security operation.
However, the full extent of the alleged activities, the individuals or entities involved and any potential damage to the project site remain matters for investigation.
The 15 suspects are expected to assist investigators in establishing the facts surrounding the incident.
By 1960news.com
