The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), has inaugurated the second cohort of 530 Blue Water Guards at the Ezinlibo Naval Base in the Western Region.
Commissioning the recruits at a brief ceremony on Friday, July 25, the Minister urged the new Guards to dedicate themselves fully to the government’s fight against illegal mining across the country.
According to him, while the government is not against mining, there is a need to wage a fierce war against the destructive effects of illegal mining—hence the establishment of the Blue Water Guards.
“Let me be clear: mining is not the enemy. When done responsibly, it can uplift communities and drive development. The enemy is the lawlessness that has turned this sector into a threat. That is why, under President John Dramani Mahama’s visionary leadership, we are taking bold action through the Blue Water Initiative—a comprehensive strategy to rescue our rivers and enforce sustainable practices,” the Minister stated.
Already, some 453 Water Guards have been deployed to monitor endemic areas where illegal mining (galamsey) is prevalent.
Addressing the initial deployment, the Minister noted that he is satisfied with the performance of the first cohort and charged the new recruits to build upon their successes.
“This is not our first deployment; 453 personnel have already been recruited, trained, and deployed, and their impact has been tremendous. Their vigilance has led to measurable progress in our fight against galamsey, proving that this approach works. To our new recruits: You are not just guards; you are community vanguards, entrusted with a sacred duty. In the spirit of the Young Pioneers, I charge you to uphold this responsibility with courage and integrity,” the Minister admonished.
In his address, he also expressed gratitude to the Ghana Navy for their support in training the Blue Water Guards and called for further collaboration in the quest to eradicate illegal mining.
The Minister also inspected a colourful parade by the Blue Water Guards, commending the discipline, order, and zeal of the young and enthusiastic recruits.
Since its inception, the Blue Water Guards have provided valuable intelligence around water bodies while deterring illegal miners who pollute these water sources.
Working in collaboration with the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat, the Guards have been instrumental in the arrest of numerous illegal miners, as well as the seizure of weapons and illicit mining equipment.
It is expected that a total of 2,000 recruits will be enlisted by the end of the year to bolster the government’s efforts against illegal mining.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is rolling out a series of critical interventions to complement the ongoing operations of the Blue Water Guards.
These include the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), which the Minister indicated will soon be launched to replace the previously defunct Community Mining Schemes (CMS).
