The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, says the Blue Water Guard initiative introduced by the government was yielding positive results.
He said the steadfastness of the guards was significantly undermining the operational framework of illegal miners, especially in the water and river bodies in communities.
In an address read on his behalf at the inauguration of 21 Blue Water Guards for the Asokore-Mampong Municipality, Mr Buah said he was very proud of the progress made so far by the guards in protecting river and water bodies.
He cautioned the guards to desist from any act that could undermine the objectives of the initiative and urged them to adhere strictly to the principles governing their operations wherever they might be deployed.
The Blue Water Guards is a government initiative designed to equip over 2,000 Ghanaian youths with the requisite skills and knowledge to protect the nation’s rivers and other water bodies adversely affected by galamsey activities.
Additionally, it aims to establish a sustainable community-driven surveillance system dedicated to the continuous protection and restoration of water bodies impacted by illegal mining.
Mr. Buah pointed out that illegal mining activities contaminate water bodies through the processing of soil and crushed stones in proximity to waterways, therefore necessitating focused intervention.
He said one of the most alarming ramifications was the pervasive pollution of rivers and streams, jeopardizing both human health and the livelihoods reliant on pristine water sources.
He said with the training they had undergone in surveillance, survival swimming, boat handling, and basic combat techniques, he was confident in their capacity to fulfill their mandate effectively.
According to him, the Blue Water Guards were anticipated to operate in close collaboration with the Ghana Navy and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations (NAIMOS), to achieve the desired goals.
The Asokore-mampong Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Ben Abdullah Alhassan, urged the guards to execute their responsibilities with diligence, integrity, and unwavering commitment.
He said such an approach would facilitate the successful realization of the President’s vision of attaining zero pollution in water bodies.
Dignitaries present at the inauguration included Mr. Steven Agbo of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Dela Edem, Head of Corporate Communications at the ministry, Mr. Kobby Boamah, Executive Assistant (Support Services), among others.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com