Accra: The Ellembelle District Command of Blue Water Guards has mounted barricades at galamsey-prone zones, to stop all galamsey-related equipment and machinery from entering the riverine bodies and forest reserves.
According to Ghana News Agency, this measure is part of the government's initiative, led by Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, to address the galamsey issue and deter illegal mining activities.
Mr. Stephen Afena, the Ellembelle District Coordinator of Blue Water Guards, explained in an interview at Aiyinasi that the initiative targets six major roads notorious for galamsey activities. These routes include the road from Nkroful to Teleku-Bokazo through to Anwia, Aiyinasi to Nyamebekyere, and Aiyinasi-North. Other targeted roads are from Ewereko to Mantukwa through to the border with Prestea, Awiebo to Asasetre road, Salma to Akango and Aluku, and from Nyamebekyere town to Sendu.
Mr. Afena mentioned that while most of these routes are not currently active due to logistical challenges, the initiative aims to be effective. By preventing galamsey equipment such as chanfang and excavators from accessing these areas, the Blue Water Guards hope to discourage illegal mining operations. The command has intensified operations to restore polluted water bodies by tracing and tracking galamsey-related machinery and erecting barricades.
He urged the Blue Water Guards officers to maintain professionalism and resist any attempts at bribery from illegal miners, emphasizing that integrity is crucial in their fight against galamsey. Since assuming office last year, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah has implemented several initiatives to combat the galamsey problem, including the Blue Water Guards initiative, the anti-galamsey task force NAIMOS, Tree for Life initiative, the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (RCOMSDEP), and the Patriotic Journalists Against Galamsey (PAJAG) initiative.