Galamsey: 400 Blue Guards Recruited To Protect River Bodies

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has launched government initiative to fight pollution of our water bodies by illegal miners, popularly known as “Galamsey”.

Code named Blue Water Initiative, about 400 individuals have been recruited and will operate under the name “Blue Guards.”

The sole aim of the guards, who are to undergo a two week security training, is the protection of the river bodies. The training is a collaboration between the Ministry of Lands and the Defence Ministry.

Launching the program, Minister Armah Kofi Buah, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, reiterated that Ghana was endowed with a lot of resources and “we have consequently laid out laws and guidelines on how to mine for gold.”

Apart from this, the government was also committed to supporting every Ghanaian willing to go into mining, provided the person was willing to do responsible mining that would not hurt the environment.

He, however, regretted that some of the miners are destroying the environment, including our water bodies, hence the decision to introduce the Blue Guards.

Upon assumption of office, Minister Armah Buah indicated,” I’ve taken very major steps to get the people of Ghana understand how serious this crisis is. I’ve gone to traditional authorities, I’ve visited Members of Parliament.

“I’ve visited key stakeholders, including media, to let us understand that this fight is not going to be a fight for the Ministry of lands or natural resources or the Ministry of Environment alone is going to be a collective fight for our future survival.

“Today, under the resetting Ghana agenda, we are proud to introduce the Blue Water Initiative, a comprehensive program designed to rehabilitate our polluted water bodies and safeguard our environment, fulfilling our commitment made within the first 120 days of this administration”.

He was hopeful that Blue Water Guards would help the John Mahama government to achieve its aim of protecting the environment.

“These are courageous young people who have been recruited from areas where our major river systems are under threat”.

The Training, Mr Armah Buah further indicated, would not end soon and that it would be a continuous process. “In collaboration with the Navy, we are moving to other regions, the Western North, Ashanti and all the other areas where our major rivers are under threat, to make sure we can have Vanguards who are going to die and save our country and I see the dedication in your eyes and I’m very convinced you will do that job”.

Lands and Natural Resources Minister stated the launch embodied the beginning of far reaching and modified efforts to safeguard our environment, promote sustainable practices and ensure a thriving legacy of generations.

He disclosed that the president in the coming week would take steps to also tackle the issues of our forest by launching a major initiative-the tree for life.

That aside, government would soon  announce major amendments to  how mining licenses are giving out to “ensure that we bring sanity and ensure that we decentralise the process and involve land owners who are chiefs and custodians in the process of giving out license”.

“This is a great job.  It’s more than a job, and this is important. Let me emphasise this. We are creating a very important job for you, and thanks to the Minerals Commission’s collaboration, the benefits you are going to get will be very, very attractive. You are the first respondents in the fight to save the soul of our country.

I’m confident that you will discharge your duties with dedication, discipline and uncompromising integrity, upholding the trust reposed in you.  May our collective efforts be crowned with success, and May future generations in health inherit a healthier, more sustainable Ghana,” he told the newly recruited water guards.

Deputy CEO of Minerals Commission, Emmanuel Anyimah, told the recruits that the major aim of the initiative was to safeguard the soul of our nation in the fight to restore sanity.

“Today we stand at the cross road of our nation as we launch the blue guards.”

He thanked the president for his commitment to fighting against the pollution of our water bodies.

Emmanuel Anyimah also thanked the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources for ensuring that the initiative had come to life.

The deputy MC CEO reminded the recruits that

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