The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced that the next phase of the government’s Blue Water initiative will focus on de-chemicalising polluted rivers and water bodies to restore them to their natural, pristine state.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Tuesday, 23 July, at Jubilee House, Mr Buah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling water pollution caused by illegal mining.

“The second phase of the Blue Water Initiative will focus on de-chemicalising the water bodies to restore them to their pristine conditions – feasibility studies are steadily underway,” he stated.

Launched within the government’s first 120 days, the Blue Water Initiative targets the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining.

Providing an update on the initiative’s progress, the Minister said, “Over 450 personnel have been trained and deployed. I am happy to announce that the second batch of 530 Blue Water Guards will be graduating this Friday (25th July), bringing the total number of trained guards to 980. We aim to train 2,000 personnel by the end of the year.”

He explained that the Blue Water Guards adopt a non-confrontational approach in their operations. “They act as intelligence officers and engage local communities, raising awareness about environmental conservation and the dangers of illegal mining,” Mr Buah noted.

In addition to water restoration efforts, the Minister highlighted a major development in promoting local content within the mining sector.

He disclosed that the Minerals Commission, in consultation with the Ghana Chamber of Mines, had completed its annual review of the Fifth Edition of the Procurement List in accordance with Regulation 7(3) of L.I. 2431—the Minerals and Mining (Local Content and Local Participation) Regulations, 2020.

“Effective January 2025, this revised list introduces enhanced Ghanaian participation requirements by reserving certain items exclusively for domestic businesses,” he revealed.

“This move is designed to boost local content, increase Ghanaian involvement, and enhance in-country value in mining,” Mr Buah emphasised.