The Regent of Dagbon Kampakuya Naa Abdulai Andani
The Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Naa Andani Yakubu Abdulai has called on President Akufo-Addo to ensure the payment of appropriate compensation to people, whose trucks and equipment were destroyed by the military recently at Dalun in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region.
According to the Regent, the inhabitants of the community and the divisional chief of the area were traumatized by the brutality of the military.
“I call on the vehicle owners and the drivers to remain calm in the hope that the competent authorities will act appropriately.
He, however, said he appreciate the negative impact of sand winning on the principal source of drinking water for Tamale and several other communities.
“The violence appears to be at total variance with the rule of law that we all cherish and seek to promote in our country.
‘I believe that the authorities could have handled the situation in a much better way than the preferred violent option which imposes economic hardships on several families in an economic environment already characterized by high unemployment.”
Kampakuya-Naa Andani Yakubu Abdulai was hopeful the President and the Military High Command will investigate the sad development and take steps to avert future incidents.
He promised to fully support the President to end ‘galamsey’ and illegal mining in Ghana, adding that “I however do not find the burning of expensive equipment to be in the best interest of our motherland.
Military personnel burnt some 14 tipper trucks, an excavator and motorbikes to stop sand winning at Dalun in the Northern Region.
The Northern Regional Secretariat of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) called for resignation of the Regional Minister over the incident.
Last year, the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC), led by the Regional Minister, gave sand winners in the area a week’s ultimatum to vacate the site.
According to REGSEC, the illegal sand winning was adversely affecting the operations of Ghana Water Company Limited in the area.
The activities of the sand winners cause erosion and increase the turbidity of the raw water.
From Eric Kombat, Yendi