The Sandwinning Problem
Sandwinning has become an increasingly pressing issue in Ghana, particularly in Northern Ghana, where rapid urbanization and infrastructure development have driven up demand for sand.
However, the unregulated nature of this activity has led to severe environmental degradation. In critical areas such as the Nawuni Sub-Catchment of the White Volta River, sandwinning has caused soil erosion, riverbank degradation, and habitat destruction. These actions not only disrupt the flow of water but also diminish water quality, exacerbating the already acute water shortages in the region.
The environmental impacts are compounded by social and health challenges, making sandwinning a major concern for sustainable development in the region.
Nawuni Sub-catchment area
The Nawuni Sub-Catchment area, which spans the Nasia River and stretches through Savelugu, Kumbungu, and Tolon, is part of the White Volta Basin, which spans across the Upper East, North East, Northern, and Savannah regions of Ghana. One of the most significant consequences of illegal sandwinning is the acute water shortages across the Basin, with Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, being the most affected city.
Tamale in Focus
Tamale, one of West Africa’s fastest-growing cities, is a vibrant hub known for its rich culture, warm hospitality, and dynamic urban expansion. The city’s rapid growth is fueled by investments in infrastructure, agriculture, and education, drawing people and opportunities to the area.
However, alongside this growth, Tamale faces a severe water crisis, especially during the dry season. Residents have described the situation as unbearable, with many expressing the strain it places on their finances and daily routines.
As one student put it, “Basic activities, like bathing and washing, have become difficult. Sometimes, I have to carry clothes home from school to wash because getting water on campus is both hard and expensive.” Another resident added, “The water situation affects me financially.”
Why does Tamale face such an acute water crisis? The city’s rapid development has generated significant demand for construction materials, especially sand, which is heavily extracted from the Nawuni Sub-Catchment area.
Consequences of Unchecked Sandwinning
This extraction is a key contributor to the water shortages, as explained by Dr. Beata Akanpani, Chairperson of the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS). “If you live in Tamale, you’d realize there is an acute water shortage. It’s costing the Ghana Water Company a lot of money to abstract and treat water because of human activities,” she stated.
Dr. Akanpani also highlighted the environmental damage caused by sandwinning, noting that construction sites are often heavily reliant on sand extracted from the region, which has negatively impacted the water treatment process. “The water is really turbid during this time,” she added.
In addition to environmental damage, sandwinning has created social challenges. Dr. Akanpani pointed out that her studies in the Nawuni catchment area revealed that more girls are now attending school than boys. “The boys have left school to help load the sand,” she explained, emphasizing the economic impact on local families.
The Watershed Fund and the Possibilites
To address these challenges, the Water Resources Commission, in collaboration with stakeholders like CONIWAS, launched the White Volta Basin Watershed Fund. This innovative initiative aims to tackle the environmental, social, and health issues arising from sandwinning activities.
Rather than banning sandwinning outright, the fund seeks to regulate and commercialize the activity to balance economic benefits with environmental preservation.
Jesse Kazapoe, Head of the White Volta Basin, explained that due to the unique geology of Tamale, the city can only access river sand from the White Volta River. This sand is carried from neighboring Burkina Faso, through the Upper East Region, and eventually deposits along the river in Tamale.
“The collection of this sand is damaging the river’s buffers and changing its morphology,” he said. In some places, the river, which once spanned 20 meters, has widened to over 100 meters, leading to siltation and flooding in those areas.
Kazapoe emphasized the need to formalize sandwinning to protect both local incomes and the environment. However, he acknowledged that the government lacks the funds to invest in such infrastructure, so the initiative is seeking private partners. “We are open to investors on our terms. Our main condition is that the environment must be protected,” he added.
Cost Benefit Analysis
The Sand Mining Cost Benefit Analysis and Market Sounding Report for the Nawuni Sub-Catchment area, conducted by the Water Resources Commission, provides an estimate of the potential volumes of sand at various sites. Savelugu 1 has an estimated volume of 28,060.21m³ (equivalent to 5,612 trips), Savelugu 2 has 2,023.55m³, and Savelugu 3 has 35,508.20m³. Kumbungu sites contribute significantly as well, with Kumbungu Site 1 estimated at 712,522.81m³ and Kumbungu Site 2 at 1,115,688.71m³. Additionally, the actual deposition in the White Volta channel is estimated at 26,000,000m³. For a 30km² area with a 60% margin, the total estimated volume is 15,600,000m³, or approximately 3,120,000 trips.
Particle size distribution analysis of the sand samples revealed that sand aggregates accounted for 95.88% and 93.88%, with clay and silt making up approximately 5%. The soil is classified as sandy, which makes it ideal for construction and rendering works. The costs of sand trips vary by type and truck size. For example, smooth sand costs GHC 960 for 5m³, GHC 1,920 for 10m³, GHC 2,880 for 15m³, and GHC 3,840 for 20m³. Similarly, rough and center rough sand costs GHC 660 for 5m³, GHC 1,320 for 10m³, GHC 1,980 for 15m³, and GHC 2,640 for 20m³. For aggregate, the prices are GHC 1,200 for 5m³, GHC 2,400 for 10m³, GHC 3,600 for 15m³, and GHC 4,800 for 20m³.
Fuel costs for tipper trucks are GHC 446.04 for a 5m³ truck, GHC 557.55 for a 10m³ truck, GHC 836.33 for a 15m³ truck, and GHC 836.33 for a 20m³ truck. Other charges include a daily sales amount of GHC 200.00 for tipper truck owners, a GHC 150 fee for manual or excavator sand loading, and a GHC 300 fee for using a chanfang machine to dredge sand from the riverbed. There are also GHC 10 charges for chiefs/landowners, police checkpoints, and the district assembly levy per 5m³.
The returns on investment for operators are significant. For a 5m³ tipper truck, the average input cost is GHC 721.04, with an average selling price of GHC 1,000, yielding a return of GHC 278.96. For a 10m³ tipper truck, the input cost is GHC 1,092.53, with a selling price of GHC 1,920, resulting in GHC 827.47 in returns. For a 15m³ tipper truck, the input cost is GHC 1,658.33, with a selling price of GHC 2,880, resulting in GHC 1,221.67 in returns. Finally, for a 20m³ tipper truck, the input cost is GHC 1,891.33, with a selling price of GHC 3,840, providing a return of GHC 1,948.67.
Conclusion
The commercialization and regulation of sandwinning, coupled with proper environmental safeguards, may offer the best solution to Tamale’s water crisis. Organizations such as the Water Resources Commission (WRC) and CONIWAS are actively seeking commercial investors who can balance profitability with environmental stewardship, ensuring that the region’s development does not come at the cost of its sustainability.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com | 101.1MHz | Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith | Bolgatanga
