The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, has inaugurated the second batch of 530 Blue Water Guards as part of its renewed push to curb illegal mining and restore Ghana’s degraded river bodies.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Friday, July 25, 2025, at the Ezinlibo Naval Base in Jomoro, the Minister charged the Blue Water Guards to uphold their responsibility with courage and integrity.
He 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.