The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah has inaugurated a new cohort of 530 Blue Water Guards, responsible to ensure rivers are protected from illegal mining activities.
The Minister during the inauguration ceremony on Friday, July 25, 2025 inauguration at the Ezinlibo Naval Base in Jomoro, charged the Blue Water Guards to uphold their responsibility with courage and integrity.
Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah urged the Guards to monitor and protect, report violations and prevent further harm to rivers, enforce the law and engage communities.
“Be the eyes and ears of our rivers, hold polluters accountable without fear or favor and work hand-in-hand with locals to foster stewardship of our water resources,” he stated.
“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 said.
He stressed that the mandate given to the guards is a long-term commitment and excellence will be rewarded to persons who eschew work professionally.
“We are watching not just for compliance, but for leaders who go above and beyond, and those who exemplify dedication will be recognized and elevated,” the Minister added.
This is the second cohort of the Blue Water Guards, the frontline defenders in protecting rivers from illegal mining. 453 personnel have already been recruited, trained and deployed.
According to the Minister, their impact has been “tremendous” whiles their vigilance has led to “measurable progress in our fight against galamsey, proving that this approach works.”
He assured them of support from the National Anti-Illegal Mining Secretariat (NAIMOS) which is the operational nerve-centre for Ghana’s fight against illegal small-scale mining and its associated environmental degradation, particularly in water bodies.
The Minister also disclosed that the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Program will soon be launched to empower local miners with legal, sustainable alternatives.
This program, he said will provide training, modern equipment, and cooperative frameworks to ensure mining benefits communities without destroying the environment.
“Blue Water Guards, be assured, the people of Ghana are behind you and together, we will restore our rivers to their rightful state: clean, blue, and life-giving. We are proud of your commitment during training, and we expect nothing less than your best in the field,” he remarked.
The Blue Water Guards Initiative is a Ghanaian government program designed to combat illegal mining (galamsey) and protect the country’s water bodies. It involves training and deploying security personnel to monitor and patrol major rivers, providing surveillance and intelligence to the Ghana Navy and other relevant agencies.
The initiative aims to curb galamsey activities, restore polluted water resources, and ensure the sustainable use of water bodies.
