Blue Water Guards Can’t Stop Galamsey – Dr. Hubert Bimpeh Aseidu Raises Concerns
The guards, who underwent a four weeks training in the western region, have been tasked to safeguard rivers and streams from galamsey activities. However, Dr. Hubert Bimpeh Asiedu, a lecturer at the Department of Sociology and Social Work at KNUST, believes the approach is unlikely to yield results.
Speaking on Kessben TV’s Maakye Morning Show, Dr. Asiedu noted that the root challenges of galamsey are deeply embedded requiring more than just physical enforcement.
“The government may be training guards, but illegal miners are already steps ahead,” he said. “They hire community-based informants and armed watchmen who alert them before any raid happens. Most security interventions are neutralized before they begin.”
He stressed that four weeks of training is not enough to prepare recruits to face armed resistance.
Dr. Asiedu also added that corruption remains a significant threat to the success of the initiative.
“Many of these guards will be tempted with bribes far greater than their monthly salaries. When survival is at stake, loyalty becomes negotiable,” he emphasized.
While the Blue Water Guard program forms part of a broader national effort to combat environmental degradation, Dr. Asiedu believes the strategy must evolve to include community engagement, intelligence-led operations, and higher-level accountability.
As the fight against galamsey intensifies, observers are calling for a shift from surface-level enforcement to more systemic, sustainable solutions that tackle the political and financial networks enabling the practice.
By: Anthonia Kumado
