Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the minister of Lands and Natural Resources has stated the government is dealing with galamsey as an emergency.
According to the Land minister, the government is working around the clock, 24 hours a day.
Speaking in an interview with Channel One TV, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah detailed, “We are treating the matter as an emergency. We’re working around the clock, 24 hours a day. These matters must be dealt with all the urgency and emergency they deserve,”.
“As a Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, I can tell the people of Ghana that we are dealing with this matter with all the emergency measures, all the urgency, the seriousness, and that they can be assured that we will be relentless and we will win the fight,” he declared.
The minister further clarified the role of the Water Guards in the fight against illegal mining commonly known as galamsey.
On 17 March 2025, the Land minister launched the Blue Water Initiative, an initiative part of the broader ‘Reset Ghana Agenda’.
The Blue Water Initiative aims to train 2,000 personnel across the country to monitor river health, identify illegal mining activities, and collaborate with local communities and traditional authorities to fight galamseyers destroying Ghana’s river bodies.
Reports suggest an initial 460 river guards to protect Ghana’s water bodies from illegal mining.
He however revealed that 2,000 guards will be deployed nationwide soon, intensifying efforts to combat environmental degradation.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah detailed, “They are not soldiers, they are not police, they are not armed guards. They are being trained by the Ghana Navy. The Ghana Navy has a very clear plan. Let me say that this whole concept was really thought-out and in collaboration with the Ghana Navy.
“The plan is that they go through an intense one-month training, including swimming and other activities. The Ghana Navy don’t have the manpower to stretch themselves along the river banks. The people we have recruited are from the river banks, and community areas,” he stated.
The minister further explained, “They’re going to be the ears and eyes of the Navy and the Security Forces. They are also going to be an interface between the communities, and we’re creating a structure that allows coordination. We’re also creating community members who are empowered to also educate their own community areas,” “In the final analysis is the galamsey fight will be won not by guns but by own minds, willingness and our hearts”.
Meanwhile, Saddick Adams, the morning show host of Angel FM has shockingly dropped a bombshell of information about illegal miners in Ghana’s forest.
According to Saddick Adams, illegal miners have hired militants from Cameroon and Ivory Coast to protect them in the forest.
He asserted that these groups, known for their terrorism, are armed and fully prepared to shoot to kill as he bears witness to this.
The journalist further revealed that these militants are mostly found in the Western Region protecting Galamseyer.
Speaking on Angel FM, Saddick Adams detailed, “The galamsey fight is over just mining, I can boldly tell you that currently there a Cameroonian militants in the Ghanaian forest, and there are Ivorian militants. Those who have been visiting galamsey sites can share this with you. I have gone to see some for myself.
Those in our galamsey sites a lot of them are not Ghanaians, I am not talking about those mining but those holding weapons to guide them, are not Ghanaians, especially in the Western Region”, he added.
Saddick Adams emphasised, “The Bengagu militants are in Ghana, and the illegal miners have gone to hire militants from Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast border, so the Western Region is illegal miners are protected by the militants and they were recruited into terrorism. They don’t listen to anyone, they just shoot to kill and have pickups prepared for them to run to Cote d’Ivoire if the situation is heated”.
