A total of 453 personnel under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources’ Blue Water Initiative have completed four weeks of intensive training at the Ghana Navy Forward Base at Ezilibo, in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.

The trainees, referred to as Blue Water Guards, underwent a comprehensive three-phase training regimen comprising theoretical, physical, and practical components.

They are scheduled to be deployed within one week to support the Ghana Navy in safeguarding the country’s major rivers from the activities of illegal miners, commonly referred to as galamseyers.

The initial batch of 453 officers formed part of a larger deployment target of 2,000 guards. These personnel will be strategically stationed along key river bodies, including the Ankobra, Pra, Fia, Tano, and Bonsa Rivers.

Their operations will be managed by five Naval Operational Bases set up across the river systems to ensure effective surveillance and response.

Launched on Monday, March 17, the Blue Water Guard Initiative aims to establish round-the-clock monitoring of Ghana’s water bodies. It is a strategic intervention to tackle illegal mining activities, protect the environment, and restore the country’s increasingly polluted water resources.