Prestea-Bogoso MCE, MP Caution Blue Water Guards Against Extortion

 The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Prestea Hunni-Valley, Dr. Matthew Ayeh, has cautioned the Blue Water Guards against using their positions to extort money from miners.
He indicated that the Assembly and the Police Commander would monitor their operations closely and would not hesitate to order the arrest of any Guard who defies their code of ethics.
“You must work as a team and avoid going to unauthorised locations alone. We will support you in identifying additional legal income sources to reduce the temptation of corrupt practices,” he said.
The MCE gave the caution at a community stakeholder gathering to receive 20 Blue Water Guards deployed to the Prestea Bogoso area. Five Water Guards have also been deployed to Aboso.
The Member of Parliament for the area, Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, in addressing the gathering clarified that the deployment of the Guards was not an attempt to collapse mining in the district, but to ensure responsible and sustainable mining practices.
“The Blue Water Guards are here to support those who are registered and mining responsibly. I encourage all unregistered miners to use the right channels to regularise their operations,” he stated.

He also urged the Guards to work diligently to help restore and preserve water bodies in the municipality.
The Western Regional Manager of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Francis Annobil Jnr, explained that the initiative was part of a broader national effort to protect water resources from the destructive effects of illegal mining.
“This task is not for the police, government, military, MCE, MP or the Minerals Commission alone. Everyone, including the small-scale miners association and traditional leaders must be involved,” Mr. Annobil Jnr. stressed.
Mr. Steven Agbo, the Deputy Manager in charge of Community Relations, said the Guards were expected to monitor activities on and around water bodies, report infractions and advice miners.
He stressed that mining must be done more than 100 meters away from water bodies and 500 meters from human settlements.
Mr. Agbo also announced that soldiers would soon be deployed to support the Guards’ operations.

“These guards are not here to intimidate residents. They are here to protect our resources. Let’s all cooperate with them,” he assured.

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