The fight against illegal mining and environmental degradation is not the government’s alone to win, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has said.

Speaking at the passing-out ceremony for the 4th batch of Blue Water Guards at the Ezilinbo Military Base at Jomoro, the minister welcomed the 452 new graduates into the force, 3news.com reported on May 16, 2026.

The induction pushes the total number of Blue Water Guards in the country to 2,071, a figure the minister described as a symbol of hope in Ghana’s struggle to protect its lands and water bodies.

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“Water is life,” Buah told the guards, military officials, and community leaders. “Without clean rivers, our health, agriculture, and security are all at risk.”

He urged chiefs, religious leaders, opinion leaders, the media, and all Ghanaians to join the fight, stressing that “the protection of the country’s natural resources demands collective responsibility.”

Buah said the guards are already making an impact, with “nearly every district where they have been deployed… showing clear improvements.”

He added that “Do not give up. Stay true to your mission,” charging the new officers to carry out their mandate with courage and effectiveness.

Base Commander of the Ezilinbo Military Base, Samuel Boateng Asiedu, confirmed the recruits underwent intensive training, including operational drills to support broader security efforts to safeguard water bodies.

“Do not be driven solely by money. Stand firm in your operations. Let purpose, not profit, guide your duty,” he cautioned the graduates.

Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah further reassured the public that while collective action is needed, the government remains committed to combating galamsey and restoring the dignity of Ghana’s environment.

NAD/AE

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