A total of 138 Blue Water Guards have been commissioned in the Bole-Bamboi district of the Savanna Region to help protect local water bodies from the devastating effects of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The inauguration ceremonies, held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at the Ghana Minerals Commission office in Bole and the Bamboi Community Centre, were led by the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole-Bamboi, Mr. Alhaji Yussif Sulemana, on behalf of the government.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, forms part of President John Dramani Mahama’s ongoing strategy to curb illegal mining and safeguard Ghana’s water resources.

The recruits, drawn from riverine communities, completed a four-week intensive training programme in surveillance, survival swimming, boat handling, environmental protection, and basic combat skills.

Speaking at the ceremony, Alhaji Yussif Sulemana commended the trainees for their dedication and urged them to carry out their duties with discipline and integrity. 

He emphasised that the Blue Water Guard position is a permanent government job that comes with competitive salaries and social security (SSNIT) benefits.

“This is a permanent job that will earn you good salaries, including SSNIT benefits.

However, anyone caught taking bribes will lose their job and face severe punishment,” he cautioned.

He further urged the guards to remain vigilant, avoid collusion with illegal miners, and uphold the trust reposed in them by their communities and the state.

Mr. Sulemana also encouraged other young people to take advantage of upcoming recruitment exercises in the Police Service, Immigration Service, Fire Service, and Prisons Service.

Touching on community development, the MP revealed that contractors would soon commence work on potable water systems for Bole and Bamboi.

He stressed that protecting the environment was crucial to sustaining access to clean water for residents.

“The Blue Water Guards are members of this very community. If we allow galamseyers to dump chemicals into our rivers, it will destroy the same water we depend on for domestic use,” he said.

He appealed to the youth to remain patient and respectful, assuring them that more employment opportunities would soon be created under various government initiatives.

The Deputy Manager of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Steven Agbo, also commended the recruits for their commitment. 

He noted that the programme was not only about physical training but also aimed at empowering young people to play an active role in controlling illegal mining across the country.

Mr. Agbo traced the origin of small-scale mining to the colonial era, noting that the term galamsey evolved from the phrase “gather and sell.” 

He lamented, however, that while earlier generations practised artisanal mining responsibly, the current generation has become more destructive.

“Our grandfathers didn’t have formal education, yet they respected the environment. Ironically, the educated generation today is destroying the very forests and rivers that sustain us,” he remarked.

He reminded prospective miners that Ghana’s mining laws prohibit mining activities within 100 meters of rivers and disclosed that obtaining a legitimate small-scale mining license costs less than GH₵8,000 — urging them to follow due process instead of engaging in galamsey.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Bole, Alhaji Abdulai Mahamood, described the initiative as timely and crucial to protecting the area’s natural resources.

“Our district is blessed with mineral resources both on land and in our rivers, but we must not allow greed to endanger our livelihoods. Farming and access to clean water are the backbone of our survival,” he stated.

The inauguration of the Blue Water Guards marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s efforts to combat illegal mining and protect its water bodies for future generations.