The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has clarified that the newly launched Blue Water Guard Initiative is not a military task force but a specialized security unit designed to support the Ghana Navy in combating illegal mining activities.
According to the Minister, the initiative, which aims to recruit and train 2,000 young people, is focused on providing intelligence and coordinated support rather than direct military enforcement.
The Blue Water Guard Initiative, launched on March 17, seeks to provide 24-hour surveillance of the country’s water bodies, helping to curb the menace of illegal mining and restore polluted water resources.
Addressing the media on Thursday, April 3, the Minister disclosed that over 400 recruits are expected to complete their training by April 15, paving the way for the next batch of trainees.
Explaining the significance of the initiative, he noted that if it had been operational earlier, it could have prevented the recent drowning of a police officer in the River Offin during an anti-illegal mining operation.
On April 2, Constable Kwabena Dogbe, a police officer, drowned in the River Offin at Assin Asaman while taking part in an operation against illegal mining. His body was recovered after a four-hour search.
The incident occurred during a swoop led by the Central North Regional Police Command, where suspected illegal miners fled across the river to evade arrest.
Commenting on the unfortunate incident, Armah-Kofi Buah stressed the importance of the Blue Water Guard Initiative in preventing such tragedies.
“We have introduced the Blue Water Initiative, targeting 2,000 young people to be trained as Blue Water Guards to monitor and report illegal activities. I must emphasize that these are not soldiers but security personnel trained to coordinate with the Ghana Navy. They will be trained as intelligence officers, learn swimming, and assist the Navy in operations,” he explained.
He further noted that the Ghana Navy is establishing 12 naval bases along major water systems to work in close coordination with the Blue Water Guards.
“The presence of these trained personnel will be felt along our river systems at all times. The tragic incident in the Enchi District, where a police officer drowned while chasing illegal miners, could have been averted if the Blue Water Guard had already been in place,” the Minister added.