Four hundred and fifty-three Blue Water Guards trained by the government to support the fight against the pollution of water bodies have passed out after four weeks of intensive training at the Nzelebu Forward Base of the Ghana Navy in the Jomoro District in the Western Region.

The recruits were drawn from riverine communities and completed a rigorous four-week training programme during which they were equipped with skills in surveillance, survival swimming, boat handling, and environmental and basic combat.

At the passing out ceremony, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said the passing out of the first batch of guards marked a new dawn in the country’s relentless fight against illegal mining activities that had plagued the country’s water bodies.

The minister warned financiers and faceless individuals behind the destructive illegal mining business to desist from the act immediately, insisting that the full force of the law was waiting for those who would be found culpable.

“The law will deal with you swiftly and severely,” he said.

He said the knowledge and skills acquired by the guards were not merely for personal growth but to arm them to serve as the vanguards in the national strategy to safeguard the country’s rivers.

“Henceforth, you shall be known as the Blue Water Guards, a vital component of President Mahama’s vision to make this fight a collective, community-driven effort,” he said.

Mr Buah said the guards, having been drawn from the riverine communities, shouldered a responsibility to serve the interest of the people and communities, saying “Your role is critical.

You are the eyes, ears, and first line of defence, working alongside traditional leaders and the local youth to protect our waters from the scourge of illegal mining”.

He stressed that the mandate of the guards did not include direct engagement with illegal miners.

“Your duty is to observe, report and escalate any threats or confrontations to the Ghana Navy Riverine Command Centres expeditiously.

The task before you is sacred; the future of our water bodies depends on your discipline and vigilance,” he stressed.

Navy Riverine Units

Under the operational command of the Ghana Navy Riverine Units, Mr Buah said the Blue Water Guards would serve as an early warning mechanism, reinforcing surveillance and deterrence efforts.

The guards, he said, were to ensure daily patrols and intelligence-sharing with security agencies to dismantle illegal mining syndicates.

“For operational success, temporary operational bases have been set up along the Ankobra, Fia, Bonsa, and Pra rivers, with plans to expand to the Central, Eastern, Ashanti, Bono, and Savannah regions to facilitate the activities of the guards.

With the temporary operational bases, he said, the guards would operate in teams strategically positioned along designated sectors for effective command and control.

“Daily situational reports, weekly summaries, and quarterly evaluations will be channelled through the Ghana Navy to the Minerals Commission and the ministry, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement,” he said.

The minister said towards the government’s efforts to strengthen the initiative, additional speedboats, patrol vehicles and motorbikes would be procured to facilitate the operations of the guards.

2,000 Direct jobs

“Beyond safeguarding our environment, this initiative would create 2,000 direct jobs, empowering Ghanaians, while securing our natural heritage,” he said.

The Blue Water Guards initiative, he said, was just one pillar of a broader, comprehensive strategy to reform Ghana’s mining sector.

“We recognise that small-scale miners contribute significantly to our economy.

In 2024 alone, Ghana generated $4.6 billion from small-scale gold exports,” the minister said.

Stakeholders ready

The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, who is the head of the Regional Security Council, expressed readiness to support the fight and ensure that illegal mining was dealt with decisively.

The Deputy Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission, Emmanuel Kwamena Anyimah, said illegal mining activities had touched the very heart of the nation’s well-being.

“For too long, the scourge of galamsey has been allowed to poison our rivers, transforming life-sustaining waters into toxic streams,” he said.

“Driven by short-term greed, illegal miners are destroying not only our environment but also the future of our communities.

This is not merely an ecological crisis; it is a threat to public health, livelihoods, and the very foundation of our nation,” Mr Anyimah said.

The evidence of these illegalities, he said, was undeniable, adding that communities were losing access to clean drinking water while farmers struggled to irrigate their crops, and fishermen hauled empty nets from dying rivers.

The Western Naval Command expressed its commitment to the cause to ensure success. It said that the guards had been well trained and equipped, and understood the task ahead.