The Second-in-Command (2IC) of the Water Guards in Wassa Amenfi East, Mr Alex Animah, has appealed to the government to equip the unit with essential logistics to improve operational efficiency, responsiveness, and effectiveness.
He lamented that the severe lack of equipment and transportation continues to undermine their efforts on the ground. Citing his jurisdiction as a case in point, Mr Animah highlighted transportation as a primary bottleneck hindering their daily patrols.
Despite these resource constraints, he noted that the Blue Water Guards have contributed significantly to the fight against illegal mining, stressing that their impact cannot be understated. In Wassa Amenfi East, the unit has actively tackled illegal miners operating within forest reserves, along major roads, and on vital water bodies.
“Through our work, we have cleared those who were mining illegally in our forests, on our waters, and on roads. We have done our best. But I cannot say the same for others. Because I am not in all the other regions, I cannot say the same for them. But for us here, we have done our best. We can, however, do much better if we have the needed logistics,” Mr Animah stated.
He further pointed out that conducting evening operations remains particularly difficult, noting that joint efforts with the military could yield far greater results if proper equipment were provided.
Addressing the distribution of resources, he revealed: “There are 21 Blue Water Guards in the Amenfi area, but we were presented with only three motorbikes. How do we share three motorbikes among 21 guards? That is a challenge. We are committed and have shown dedication to the work, but the logistics for us to work with are not available. We are therefore appealing to President John Dramani Mahama to help. We want to assure him that we are ready to work, but it is difficult for us to move around. We need logistics to work with, especially in Ankobra.”
Mr Animah made these remarks in response to the recent arrest of nine Blue Water Guards by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) at Manso Adubia in the Ashanti Region over allegations of bribery and impersonation. The suspects were apprehended on Friday, 21 August 2026, after reportedly extorting funds while masquerading as NAIMOS operatives.
Following the incident, an internal memo issued to Blue Water Guards personnel described the alleged conduct as a grave breach of professional standards, warning that such actions risk tarnishing the reputation of the national anti-illegal mining campaign. The notice firmly reiterated that personnel are strictly prohibited from posing as or acting on behalf of NAIMOS officials.
Commenting on the development, Mr Animah called for a thorough investigation into the allegations and urged full prosecution if the officers are found guilty.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
