JSC Mediterranean Ghana, a leading dredging company contracted to undertake restoration works on the Lower Volta, is raising alarm over rampant illegal sand winning activities along the river, warning of devastating environmental and health consequences for local communities.
At a press conference held in Accra on Tuesday, the Managing Director of JSC Mediterranean Ghana, Professor Albert Tsolu, called on the government, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Volta River Authority (VRA) to intensify enforcement operations to halt these illegal activities.
According to him, unchecked sand winning is not only destroying the ecosystem but also endangering the health and livelihoods of communities along the Lower Volta.
“These illegal sand winners are operating with augmented unprofessionalism by broadening and deepening the riverbed to unimaginable levels. This is dangerous to inhabitants who rely on the river for daily survival,” Prof. Tsolu stated.
He further cautioned that the degraded riverbanks and polluted water bodies pose serious health threats, including an increased risk of diseases like bilharzia and river blindness, which are transmitted through waterborne vectors thriving in disrupted aquatic environments.
JSC Mediterranean Ghana is currently executing a 10-year dredging contract awarded by the VRA.
Prof. Tsolu expressed optimism that the project, once fully operational, will help curb illegal sand winning and restore the health of the river ecosystem.
“The dredging project will enable free flow of water, clear clogged river channels and tributaries, and eliminate submerged and floating vegetation. This will ease water access, restore commercial fishing and support safe water transport between the southern and northern sections of the Volta River,” he explained.
He also noted that the project will create an unfavourable habitat for bilharzia-causing snails, helping prevent the spread of waterborne diseases in affected communities.
However, Prof. Tsolu expressed concern that the success of the dredging project is being undermined by continued illegal operations by some companies.
He singled out Z&J 198 Ghana Ltd and Sparking Shovels Ltd, accusing them of flouting directives to cease operations despite having lost out in a prior tender process.
“It’s disheartening to see government project contractors purchasing sand from these illegal operators. This practice is not only illegal but also acts as a disincentive to the dredging initiative meant to benefit the same communities,” he lamented.
JSC Mediterranean Ghana is therefore calling on authorities to urgently act to protect the Lower Volta, warning that failure to clamp down on the illegal trade will have long-term consequences on water quality, public health, and the sustainability of the river ecosystem.
Prof. Tsolu reaffirmed the company’s commitment to restoring the Lower Volta and ensuring that the region reaps the full benefits of a healthy, navigable and productive waterway.
