The ongoing sand mining operation at the Garu-Abilatega Dam has brought a sense of relief and excitement to the local residents.
According to an exclusive house-to-house interview conducted on October 2, 2024, the majority of the community members expressed their delight with the project .
The dam, constructed in the 1970s by a foreign investor for irrigation purposes, has been a vital source of water and livelihood for the community. Initially used for vegetable farming, the dam became a community asset after the investor left the country.
Over time, the dam’s water level would overflow during heavy rainfall seasons due to sand accumulation, causing concerns among residents.
However, with the sand mining operation underway, residents like Asare Alice see an opportunity to restore the dam to its former state. “We have benefited a lot from this dam, and the sand has almost filled up the pit, so this operation is a chance for us to get the dam back as it was,” Alice said.
While the community initially relied on the dam for water, they later shifted to fishing after the government provided a better water source.
The sand mining operation is expected to revitalize the dam’s ecosystem and potentially create new economic opportunities.
It’s worth noting that sand mining has become a significant environmental concern globally, with estimates suggesting that between 32 billion and 50 billion tonnes of sand and gravel are extracted annually.
The World Economic Forum has highlighted the need for sustainable sand resource management to avoid a sand crisis.
In Garu-Abilatega, however, the sand mining operation is seen as a welcome development, bringing hope for a renewed community asset and improved livelihoods.
