Kumasi, Ghana – By: Evans Osei-Bonsu
Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has thrown his weight behind the government’s Blue Water Guard initiative, describing it as Ghana’s direct and targeted response to the growing threat of water pollution caused by illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Taking his turn at the Government Accountability Series forum on Monday, July 21, 2025, the Minister praised the initiative for tackling one of the country’s most persistent environmental and security challenges head-on.
“The Blue Water Guard initiative is Ghana’s targeted response to the growing threat of water pollution caused by illegal mining,” Dr. Omane Boamah declared, reaffirming government’s commitment to protecting the country’s river bodies and natural resources.
The Blue Water Guard initiative, introduced earlier this year by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has been observed by experts as already making waves. In its first phase, over 400 young recruits were trained by the Ghana Navy’s Riverine Command to patrol and monitor major water bodies that have suffered years of devastation from illegal mining activities. These include rivers such as Ankobra, Pra, Tano, and Bonsa. By mid-April, the first batch of 453 guards had been officially deployed to serve as the eyes and ears of the state along these vulnerable waterways.
While the guards are unarmed, their role is seen as crucial. They are tasked with gathering intelligence, engaging with local communities, and alerting security agencies about illegal mining operations. Their presence, in collaboration with the Ghana Navy and other security bodies, is part of Government’s broader and more coordinated fight against galamsey.
