The first batch of 87 river wardens who have been trained to help police the country’s water bodies against illegal mining (Galamsey ) activities have passed out.
The 84 males and three females contingent received a one-month pre-deployment training in weapon handling, swimming, drills, combat and other survival skills that would help them to monitor galamsey activities along the Birim, Pra, Ankobra, Offin, Black Volta and other rivers that are hotspots for illegal mining activities.
They were trained by the Eastern Naval Command of the Ghana Navy in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission.
At the graduation ceremony in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mines, George Mireku Duker, said the deployment of the river wardens underscored the government’s determination to fight illegal mining across the country and build a responsible, viable and sustainable mining industry.
“The river wardens will be working closely with the Riverine Command of the Navy and Operation Halt II contingent from time to time to help stop the galamsey activities in water bodies,” he said.
He warned that there would be drastic action against all persons who were still involved in galamsey, in spite of the gamut of measures the government had rolled out to curb the menace.
“We have observed that there are still some recalcitrant nation wreckers who seek only their selfish interest at the expense of the national interest, by conniving with others, both locals and foreigners to outwit our security agencies to pollute these rivers.”
“We are also aware of others who have resorted to mining at night with armed guards when the security agencies are done with their operation. We will go for them,” Mr Duker stressed.
The deputy minister said all the 16 regional ministers and their Regional Security Councils (REGSECs) had been engaged to devise new strategies to deal with that challenge head-on.