The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has commissioned the third batch of the Blue Water Guards, describing the initiative as a bold national response to the destruction of Ghana’s forests and pollution of its water bodies caused by illegal mining.
A total of 636 personnel were commissioned at the ceremony on Saturday, bringing the overall strength of the Blue Water Guards to 1,700 nationwide.
Speaking at the event, Mr Armah-Kofi Buah reflected on what he described as remarkable progress made since the government intensified the fight against illegal mining and environmental degradation.
He recalled that out of the 288 forest reserves in the country, as many as 44 were under severe attack when the current administration took office.
According to the lands minister, nine of those reserves were classified as “red zones” because they had been taken over by armed foreign illegal miners, making it impossible for state officials to access them.
“I am proud that today we have liberated all the forests and they are breathing again,” the minister said, adding that the success was the result of difficult, but decisive political choices taken under the leadership of President John Mahama.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah highlighted the Tree for Life Initiative as another major pillar of the government’s environmental recovery programme.
He explained that the initiative was launched to restore degraded forest lands and reverse years of environmental destruction.
Under the programme, government set a target of planting 30 million trees nationwide. The minister disclosed that about 28 million trees have already been planted, with confidence that the 30-million target would be achieved by the end of the year.
The lands minister also pointed to the revocation of Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, which previously allowed mining in forest reserves, describing the decision as politically difficult, but necessary.
“We have drawn a line in the sand. There will be no mining in forest reserves. That forest will be protected for generations yet unborn,” he stressed.
Touching on reforms in the mining sector, Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said the Minerals Commission was restructured after government identified serious challenges within the institution.
He noted that extensive nationwide consultations had been conducted to overhaul the laws governing mining in Ghana.
He announced that proposals for a complete reform of mining laws and policies were being finalised and would soon be presented to Cabinet, after which they would be sent to Parliament for approval.
The minister said the establishment of the Blue Water Guards was aimed at restoring polluted rivers and streams and “turning our waters blue again.”
He explained that the initiative began in the Western, Western North and Savannah regions and has now been extended to Ashanti, Central, Eastern regions and parts of the Upper West Region.
Describing the guards as the “vanguards of our water bodies,” Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said they were selected from riverine communities and would be sent back as trained officers, champions and educators to protect water resources at the local level.
He revealed that turbidity levels of major water sources, which should normally be around 500, had risen to between 5,000 and 12,000 in some areas, making the water almost impossible to treat. He attributed recent shutdowns by the Ghana Water Company to these extreme pollution levels.
“The Blue Water Guards have decided to stand up for Ghana,” he said, urging them to serve as the eyes and ears along waterways, monitor the health of rivers, identify polluted areas and report illegal activities for swift intervention.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources said the guards would work closely with law enforcement agencies, including the Ghana Police Service and other state institutions, to enforce environmental laws.
He cautioned the personnel to remain vigilant and maintain the highest standards of integrity, warning that they would face daily temptations to compromise their duties.
“If you fall, who keeps the post? Who guards us?” he asked, urging them to dedicate themselves to protecting the nation’s water resources.
The minister assured the guards of continuous government support and announced that, in collaboration with the Minerals Commission, 1,000 motorbikes had been procured to enhance their operations nationwide.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, described the Blue Water Guards initiative as a defining moment in the country’s quest for environmental justice and sustainable development.
Dr. Amoakohene said the establishment of the Blue Water Guards was not a routine security exercise but a solemn national duty that required courage, discipline and unwavering patriotism from those entrusted with the assignment.
“Today marks a defining moment in our collective responsibility to Ghana. We have gathered not merely to integrate a team, but to commission a special purpose force dedicated to the defence, protection and restoration of our motherland,” he stated.
The Regional Minister drew parallels between the sacrifices made by Ghana’s forefathers in the struggle for political independence and the current generation’s responsibility to protect the country’s natural resources, particularly its rivers and lands.
According to him, true freedom must go beyond political independence to include environmental justice, stressing the need for deliberate action to heal degraded lands and polluted water bodies.
“Our rivers are not merely water bodies; they are sources of life, livelihood, culture and national heritage.
“When they are polluted, communities suffer. Public health is threatened and the future of generations unborn is robbed of its inheritance,” Dr. Amoakohene said.
He described the commissioning of the Blue Water Guards as a bold and visionary response to the growing environmental degradation caused largely by illegal mining and other destructive activities along river bodies across the country.
The Ashanti Regional Minister commended President Mahama and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources for their foresight and determination in establishing the Blue Water Guards, noting that the initiative demonstrated government’s commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s natural resources.
Dr. Amoakohene charged the newly commissioned guards to see themselves as disciplined patriots on a national assignment, urging them to conduct their duties with integrity, professionalism and respect for the rule of law.
“Your actions will be watched not only by citizens today but by generations unborn who will benefit from your sacrifice,” he cautioned.
