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Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, has announced a strategic shift in Ghana’s approach to combating illegal mining, or galamsey, under President Mahama’s administration.
During his appearance before the Appointments Committee on January 27, 2025, Buah proposed the establishment of water guards as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to the permanent deployment of military personnel to protect the nation’s rivers and forest reserves.
Buah explained that while the military’s efforts have been vital in the past, the ongoing cost of deploying them to safeguard water bodies has proven to be unsustainable.
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He suggested that water guards, specially trained individuals tasked with the protection of water bodies and forest reserves, would be more efficient in the long run.
“We’re already aware of the efforts of the security services, especially when it comes to our polluted waters. The state of our rivers is nothing to write home about. The police and the military have played a critical role. But if I get a chance as a minister, we will evaluate the new program,” Buah noted.
The new initiative would provide a permanent solution to the persistent challenge of illegal mining activities, offering a more localised and focused approach to environmental protection.
Buah expressed his enthusiasm for training water guards to ensure the protection of Ghana’s natural resources and emphasised the need for a comprehensive, long-term solution to address the environmental crisis caused by galamsey.
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