The Convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has raised concerns over the effectiveness of the government’s Blue Water Initiative, despite acknowledging its good intentions.

Speaking on the initiative, which seeks to train local personnel to monitor and combat illegal mining in water bodies, Dr. Ashigbey questioned whether those being recruited have the necessary capacity to deal with the scale of the issue.

In an interview on Joy FM's Top Story on Monday, March 17, Dr. Ashigbey stressed that while the initiative is commendable, its success would be dependent on additional support from the Ghana Navy, the Air Force, and the Army.

"The difference the Minister of Lands tells us is that they will be using local people. The challenge is whether these people have the capacity to deal with illegal miners effectively. Sometimes, you know the areas where these activities are happening, and the question you would ask yourself is, how much training do these people have to handle it?" he stated.

"The intention is good, but I am not too sure how effective this will be unless it is coupled with support from the Navy, Air Force, and Army. The Air Force can provide aerial surveillance over treacherous areas, while the Army and other security agencies handle enforcement on the ground. If we leave it solely to these community-based personnel, it will be difficult," he explained.

He also called for decentralisation of the initiative, ensuring that the recruits work under District Chief Executives (DCEs) to enhance supervision and accountability. However, he noted that similar water guard programmes have been launched in the past without sustained impact, raising concerns about whether this initiative would be different.

"Even during Operation Vanguard, we saw situations where some military and police personnel were compromised. Today, in most mining areas, police leadership is still compromised. If these new personnel are to succeed, strong leadership and accountability mechanisms must be put in place," he warned.

• Read also: 400 guards trained under ‘Blue Water’ initiative to protect river bodies from galamsey

The Blue Water Initiative is part of the broader ‘Reset Ghana Agenda’ and aims to train 2,000 personnel nationwide by the end of the year. At the Ghana Navy Forward Operating Base in Ezilebo in the Western Region, 400 recruits are currently undergoing intensive training to become Blue Water Guards.

Their primary responsibilities will include monitoring river health, identifying illegal mining activities, and working with local communities and traditional authorities to tackle water pollution.