400 Guards train to safeguard water bodies

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has started the training of river guards to protect the country’s water bodies against degradation. 

Currently, 400 recruits, known as the Blue Water River Guards, are undergoing training at the Ezinlibo Forward Base of Ghana Navy in the Jomoro District in the Western Region.

The government intends to train 2,000 river guards across the country this year.

The Blue Water River Guard is a module under the Blue Water Initiative, one of the two pillars the government wants to deploy to resolve the canker of mining in water bodies and environmental degradation. The other one is the Tree for Life.

The trainees, will undergo intense and rigorous four-week training to be equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary for the adequate and timely protection of Ghana’s river bodies.

The young trainees drawn mainly from the affected communities, will undergo training in swimming and other skills under the operational command of the Ghana Navy’s Riverine Command. 

Launch

At the launch of the Blue Water River Guards Initiative on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at Ezinlibo in Jomoro Municipality, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, said: “Today, under the Resetting Ghana agenda, we are proud to introduce two groundbreaking programmes: the Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative and the Blue Water Initiative, which we promised to deliver in the first 120 days in power.”

He underscored the importance of the River Guard initiative in the fight against illegal mining.

“Our rivers are more than just bodies of water; they are the lifelines of our communities. They provide drinking water, support agriculture, sustain fisheries, drive tourism and facilitate transportation.

Yet, the selfish actions of illegal miners are robbing us of these vital resources,” he said.

The minister said the Blue Water Initiative was the government’s response packaged in a comprehensive strategy to safeguard water bodies and promote sustainable practices.

Mr Buah said the success of the River Guards hinged on the support of every Ghanaian, and that it was not just another government initiative; it was a national call to action.

“We must all play our part in protecting our water resources.”

The trainees would serve as the frontline defenders of rivers, ensuring that water bodies remain a source of life, livelihood and prosperity for generations to come.

The consequences of the illegal activities are dire - polluted rivers, loss of biodiversity, food insecurity, climate change, and severe public health crises and threats to human existence,” the minister stated.

Mr Buah explained that the trainees would serve as the frontline defenders of rivers, ensuring that water bodies remained a source of life, livelihood and prosperity for generations to come.

He said the consequences of the illegal activities were dire, resulting in polluted rivers, loss of biodiversity, food insecurity, climate change, severe public health crises and threats to human existence.

The minister charged the trainees to see their task as a call to duty and part of history to give life back to the county’s rivers, saying: “Your responsibilities are absolutely critical and responsible for monitoring the health of our rivers, identifying areas of concern, and reporting on any illegal activities for timely interventions.”

Bonsa Water Treatment

The Western Regional Minister, Joe Nelson, said the Western Region held one of the three water systems in the country and had the highest concentration of water polluted by illegal small-scale mining activities.

“The Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has had to shut down its Bonsa Water Treatment site in Tarkwa due to heavy pollution of the water bodies due to illegal mining activities,” Mr Nelson stated.

He said the Bonsa headworks facility, which produced 75 per cent of potable water for Tarkwa and the surrounding communities, was forced to shut down operations after efforts to treat the heavily polluted water were practically impossible.  

Also, the polluted water was flowing to neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire, causing agitation between both countries.  

Key partner

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Emmanuel Anyimah, said the commission was proud to be a key partner in the initiative.

Established under the Minerals Commission Act of 1993, he said its mandate was to regulate and manage the utilisation of Ghana’s mineral resources in ways that ensured sustainable development.

The commission, he said, would provide the necessary regulatory support, technical guidance, and oversight to ensure that the River Guards were well-equipped to execute their mandate effectively.