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Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has flatly denied allegations that the use of river guards to safeguard Ghana’s waterways is just a “job for the boys.”
Rather, he maintains that the program is a well-organized effort with strategic support from the Ghana Navy that aims to reduce illicit mining and water contamination.
His answer tackles questions about whether the program is just a means of giving a small number of people jobs.
“It is a job for the boys. This is a well-thought-out programme, shepherded by the Ghana Navy. The Navy is overseeing its training at its bases, and the plan is to establish 12 riverine bases across the country, including in Ashanti, Eastern, North, and Western regions. Since the Navy cannot be everywhere at once, these guards will serve as the eyes and ears on the ground, ensuring quick response when needed,” he clarified on Saturday, March 12 on JoyNews’ Newsfile.
The minister also addressed worries that river guards are unarmed and have little enforcement authority, explaining that their main responsibility is to watch and act as first responders, sending vital information to the Ghana Navy for prompt action.
“This community-based approach fosters accountability and increases their effectiveness in safeguarding water bodies,” he said, adding that the river guards are chosen from areas that are directly impacted by illicit mining, allowing them to be familiar with local dynamics and issues.
In response to a query concerning the potential for river guards to be compromised, as has occasionally occurred with security forces, the minister admitted the risk but insisted that doing nothing was not an option.
“Everything you said is true. But what we are doing is better than doing nothing at all. The alternative—leaving our water bodies unprotected—is simply unacceptable,” he affirmed.
By the end of the year, the Blue Water Initiative, which is a component of the larger “Reset Ghana Agenda,” hopes to have trained 2,000 individuals statewide. Currently, 400 trainees are undergoing rigorous training to become Blue Water Guards at the Ghana Navy Forward Operating Base in Ezinlibo, Western Region.
Monitoring river health, spotting illicit mining operations, and collaborating with local people and traditional authority to address water pollution will be their main duties.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
