The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, is expected to commission the fourth batch of Blue Water Guards today, Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Ezinlibo Naval Base in the Western Region.
This forms part of government’s intensified efforts to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The ceremony will begin with an inspection of a parade mounted by the newly trained recruits, after which the Minister will deliver an address before the guards are officially deployed to various galamsey hotspots across the country.
The Blue Water Guards initiative was introduced in March 2025 to support the government’s anti-illegal mining campaign, particularly in protecting Ghana’s water bodies from pollution and destruction caused by illegal mining activities.
Since the programme began, more than 1,600 recruits have been trained and commissioned to gather intelligence and support enforcement operations against illegal mining operators.
According to a statement issued by Paa Kwesi Schandorf, Spokesperson for the Lands Ministry, the activities of the Blue Water Guards have significantly strengthened the work of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), which depends on timely intelligence to track and disrupt illegal mining operations.
The latest batch of recruits is expected to reinforce ongoing operations in mining-prone areas and improve surveillance along rivers and other water bodies vulnerable to galamsey activities.
Government says the continued expansion of the Blue Water Guards programme demonstrates its commitment to tackling illegal mining and protecting the country’s natural resources under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama.
