Bekwai MCE Inaugurates Blue Water Guards Initiative in Bekwai Municipality; 18 Youth Trained to Protect Water Bodies
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Bekwai, in the Ashanti Region, Hon. Salifu Issaka has inaugurated the government’s Blue Water Guards Initiative in the Bekwai Municipality, with eighteen young people trained and deployed to help protect the area’s water bodies from degradation caused largely by illegal mining activities.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Bekwai Municipal Assembly Hall, formed part of government’s broader efforts to safeguard Ghana’s rivers and restore water bodies whose quality has been severely compromised by galamsey and other environmentally harmful practices.
Speaking at the event, the Bekwai MCE Hon. Salifu Issaka commended the Government of Ghana for rolling out the Blue Water Guards Initiative, describing it as a timely and strategic intervention in the fight against illegal mining. He stressed that the protection of water bodies was critical to public health, agriculture, and sustainable development, and urged residents of the municipality to support the initiative for it to succeed.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, in a speech read on his behalf, underscored the importance of the initiative in the national campaign to protect rivers and other water resources. He noted that the continuous pollution of water bodies posed a serious threat to livelihoods and the environment, making the deployment of trained youth essential to reversing the damage.
According to the Minister, the eighteen beneficiaries have undergone training to build their capacity to monitor water bodies, report illegal activities, and work closely with relevant state institutions to promote the recovery and protection of rivers. He emphasized that the Blue Water Guards Initiative was designed not only to enforce environmental laws but also to instill a culture of environmental responsibility at the community level.
The speech was delivered by the Head of Corporate Communications of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Dela Edem, who charged the newly trained guards to appreciate the significance of their role in safeguarding the nation’s water resources. He urged them to discharge their duties with diligence, discipline, and integrity, noting that their actions would directly impact the success of the initiative.
Mr. Edem also called on traditional authorities, opinion leaders, and community members in the Bekwai Municipality to cooperate fully with the Blue Water Guards and support their work in protecting rivers and streams from further destruction.
The inauguration of the Blue Water Guards Initiative in Bekwai is expected to strengthen local efforts to curb illegal mining and contribute significantly to the restoration and long-term sustainability of water bodies within the municipality and beyond.
