Mahama announces GH¢400m for Blue Water Guards to fight galamsey
President John Dramani Mahama has announced an allocation of GH¢400 million in the 2027 Budget to recruit additional Blue Water Guards to intensify the fight against illegal mining, particularly on Ghana’s water bodies.
He said the additional funding would strengthen efforts to patrol rivers and prevent illegal miners from using changfang machines to destroy water bodies.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the Western North Regional House of Chiefs at the Presidency, President Mahama said the government was committed to clearing rivers of illegal mining equipment and protecting the country’s natural resources.
“In next year’s Budget, the Minister of Finance has provided another GH¢400 million to employ more Blue Water Guards to patrol the water bodies,” he said.
President Mahama explained that the guards had been instructed to destroy changfang machines whenever they encountered them during their operations.
He said the government had already destroyed several of the machines, resulting in the clearance of major channels of some rivers. However, he noted that pollution continued as mud and silt flowed into the rivers from tributaries stretching hundreds of kilometres.
The President also disclosed that the government had made progress in reclaiming forest reserves previously designated as red zones because of extensive destruction and the presence of heavily armed illegal miners.
According to him, all nine red-zone forest reserves had been cleared of illegal mining operators, with soldiers deployed to prevent the miners from returning.
He said previous attempts to restore the reserves had faced challenges because illegal miners often returned after soldiers withdrew from the areas.
President Mahama further disclosed that the Goldbod had begun working with the military to reclaim degraded forest lands through land levelling and the planting of economic trees, with the Forestry Commission supporting the restoration exercise.
He, however, stressed that the fight against illegal mining required stronger collaboration with traditional authorities, particularly in forest reserves and around water bodies.
The President urged chiefs to support the government’s efforts, noting that their presence and influence in local communities could help prevent illegal mining activities and reduce confrontations between residents and security personnel.
He also linked the fight against galamsey to the need to create alternative livelihoods for young people, saying the government’s proposed US$10 billion New Economy Policy would invest in job-creating sectors to discourage the youth from engaging in illegal mining.
President Mahama expressed concern about the involvement of Senior High School students in illegal mining, explaining that some entered the pits because their parents could not afford to support their education.
He said the government must combine law enforcement with employment opportunities to address the economic pressures driving young people into the illegal mining business.
The President called for a united effort involving government, traditional authorities and local communities to protect Ghana’s rivers and forests and ensure the sustainability of the country’s natural resources.
