W/R: Minerals Commission deploys 453 Blue Water Guards to combat illegal mining

The Minerals Commission has started deploying 453 Blue Water Guards. They will work in seven Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Western Region. This initiative aims to protect water bodies from pollution caused by illegal small-scale mining.

These 453 personnel are part of a national plan. The goal is to train and deploy 2,000 Blue Water Guards. They completed their training with the Ghana Navy on April 14, 2025. Now, they will collaborate with the Navy and the Ghana Police Service.

On May 21, during the deployment of 213 guards to Ellembelle District, Francis Annobil spoke to the media. He is the Western Regional Director of the Minerals Commission. He announced that a total of 326 guards have already been deployed across selected MMDAs.

Mr. Annobil emphasized that this deployment exercise is ongoing. It will continue until all trained personnel are stationed in their areas.

He urged communities to welcome and support the guards. Community collaboration is crucial for achieving program goals. “These individuals have completed their training,” he explained. “Now it’s time for them to begin their official duties.”

He clarified that guards will not operate independently. They will work closely with police officers. If they see illegal mining activities, they will report them to police for action.