Blue Water Guard Initiative Delivering Results – Lands Minister
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has expressed satisfaction with the progress of the government’s Blue Water Guard initiative, noting that it is recording positive results in the fight against illegal mining, particularly in rivers and other water bodies.
He said the commitment and vigilance of the guards were significantly weakening the operations of illegal miners in affected communities, especially those operating along watercourses.
In an address read on his behalf at the inauguration of 21 Blue Water Guards for the Asokore-Mampong Municipality, Mr Buah said he was highly encouraged by the impact the initiative had made so far in protecting the country’s rivers and water bodies.
He cautioned the newly inaugurated guards to refrain from any conduct that could undermine the objectives of the programme and urged them to strictly adhere to the guiding principles of the initiative wherever they were deployed.
The Blue Water Guard initiative is a government programme aimed at equipping more than 2,000 Ghanaian youths with the skills and knowledge required to protect rivers and other water bodies degraded by illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. The initiative also seeks to establish a sustainable, community-driven surveillance system to ensure the continuous protection and restoration of polluted water bodies.
Mr Buah explained that illegal mining activities contaminate rivers and streams through the washing and processing of soil and crushed stones close to waterways, making targeted interventions critical. He described the widespread pollution of water bodies as one of the most dangerous consequences of galamsey, threatening public health and the livelihoods of communities dependent on clean water sources.
He expressed confidence in the guards’ ability to discharge their duties effectively, citing their training in surveillance, survival swimming, boat handling and basic combat techniques. According to him, the Blue Water Guards are expected to work closely with the Ghana Navy and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) to achieve the initiative’s objectives.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Asokore-Mampong, Ben Abdullah Alhassan, urged the guards to carry out their responsibilities with diligence, integrity and unwavering commitment. He said such an approach would help realise the President’s vision of achieving zero pollution in the nation’s water bodies.
