Member of Parliament for Atwima Kwanwoma, Kofi Amankwah Manu, has cast doubts on the effectiveness of the newly established Blue Water Guards, arguing that the initiative is merely a scheme to provide employment opportunities for political foot soldiers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The Blue Water Guards, a new task force aimed at combating illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, was launched on Monday, March 17 by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Kofi Amarh Buah.

The initiative is intended to bolster the government’s ongoing efforts to protect Ghana’s water bodies from the devastating effects of illegal mining activities.

However, skepticism has already been expressed by some political figures, with Amankwah Manu among the most vocal critics.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, March 20, Amankwah Manu argued that the establishment of the Blue Water Guards will do little to curb the menace of galamsey, stating that past efforts involving even more robust security forces failed to yield the desired results.

He further emphasized the need for a more strategic and militarised approach to addressing the galamsey problem.

“Mr. Speaker, the Blue Water Guard cannot be an avenue for providing employment for foot soldiers. No! We are putting the lives of these young ones at risk. They are Ghanaians.

“We cannot take delight in dressing them up in white t-shirts over Adidas slacks to go there, parade them as Blue Water Guard. Mr. Speaker, we used the military. Yes! We did not get the results that we all wanted.”

Sompaonline.com