The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, , has declared that mining itself is not the problem but rather the lawlessness within the sector, which has led to severe environmental degradation.
Speaking at the inauguration of the second cohort of 530 Blue Water Guards at the Ezinlibo Naval Base, the minister emphasized the government's commitment to combating illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, through the Blue Water Initiative.
Delivering his address on behalf of President , the minister highlighted the dire state of Ghana's water bodies, which have been heavily polluted by illegal mining activities.
He noted that rivers, once vital for drinking water, agriculture, and livelihoods, are now compromised, with water treatment plants in the Western and Central Regions forced to shut down due to pollution.
