The Ho West District Assembly (HWDA) organized a stakeholder consultative meeting with sand winning contractors and Tipper truck drivers on Thursday 30th March, 2023 at the District Assembly. The meeting was attended by the Regional Chairman of the National Association of Sand and Stone Workers and Tipper Truck Users (NASSWOTTU), the Chairman of Tipper Truck Owners Association, Chairman of Contractors Association, all Contractors, all Tipper Truck Drivers, the Director of Frandofil Ventures Limited and some Heads of Departments/Units of the Assembly.
The objectives of the meeting was to discuss and review sand winning operation/activities in the district. It also to exchange views and take decisions that will help regulate the adherence to operational standards.
In his address, the District Chief Executive, Hon. Ernest Victor Apau noted that the District Assembly has held series of stakeholder engagement to ensure that the contractors and Tipper Truck Drivers, Land Owners adhere to the operational standards of sand winning, however, some of them are still flouting the regulations. He added that they are still illegal sand winning going on in the district where some of the contractors are operating without valid licences and those operating at unapproved sites.
Hon. explained that the Local Goverment Act 2016 (936) gives powers to the Assembly to make sure that all prospective contractors, landowners, traditional authorities, Tipper truck drivers among others conform to sustainable environmental practices.
For his part the District Coordinating Director, Mr. Wisdom Kporngor indicated that sand winning communities have expressed their displeasure of the operations of the sand winners due to the excessive noise they produce, over speeding and destruction of their roads. He also called on the contractors to execute their Corporate Social Responsibilities to the communities they operate.
Participants brought out their views and recommendations. It was resolved that all contractors should have approved movement plan, sand winners should reclaim lands they have won or else will not be allowed to operate in the district, the operating hours for fetching sand was from 6:00a.m to 6:00p.m and all heavy duty equipment used by the contractors should be registered with the Assembly.
The Regional Chairman of National Association of Sand and Stone Workers and Tipper Trucks Users (NASSWOTTU), Mr. Francis Gatsey expressed his gratitude for the meeting. He noted that the Association have had meetings with its members concerning compliance to regualaltions and hope they exhibit it in the district.
Source: ISD, Ho West
