The Minerals Commission, has unveiled the Blue Water Guards in Western North Region.
The Western Regional Public Relations Officer for the Minerals Commission, DELA EDEM, advised the newly recruited guards during a media interaction to refrain from accepting bribes from illegal miners. He warned that any guard found engaging in bribery would face dismissal and could be exposed by the same miners.
Edem urged civilians to view the guards as neighbors, not enemies, and to avoid conflicts or misunderstandings in their collaborative efforts.
These remarks were made during the unveiling ceremony and community engagement event held by the Minerals Commission and Blue Water Guards in Bedii, a town in the Sefwi Wiawso municipality.
The Minerals Commission branches in the Western and Western North Regions have called for strong support and enthusiasm from civilians to work with the Blue Water Guards to combat illegal mining, known as “galamsey,” across the country.
His Excellency, President of the 4th Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, and the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, have inaugurated over 900 individuals as guards and deployed them to various stations nationwide.
According to Mr. Dela Edem, the Blue Water Guards have been trained and provided with rules and regulations to guide their work effectively without community interference.
These guards were selected from local communities, giving them knowledge of illegal mining sites and the individuals involved, enabling them to easily identify those engaging in galamsey.
Story by: AKUAPEM-HANN KWAME OMONO ASAMOAH
