River Guards are not soldiers , they are first responders from galamsey-hit communities – Lands Minister

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has clarified that the newly launched River Guard initiative is not a military operation but a community-driven strategy to combat illegal mining.

Speaking on JoyNews, he explained that the guards, though trained by the Ghana Navy, are not armed but act as early responders and intelligence gatherers.

The initiative, which currently has 400 recruits and aims to expand to 2,000, will prioritize heavily affected regions.

The government sees this as a crucial step in involving local youth in environmental protection, complementing military and Forestry Commission efforts.

Mr. Buah emphasized that lasting change depends on community participation in safeguarding Ghana’s natural resources.