Takoradi: The Minerals Commission has organised a career development orientation for blue water guards to enhance their skills and knowledge in their line of duty. The two-day orientation, held in Takoradi, was attended by selected community heads of the guards from the Western and Western North regions where they were taken through the Mining Cadastre Administration System (MCAS) and its processing cycle, and navigating the Ghana Mining Repository among other topics.
According to Ghana News Agency, this initiative aimed to enable the participants to identify and verify licences of miners and provide information to security agencies to clamp down on those mining without the necessary documentation. Mr. Emmanuel Anyimah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Minerals Commission in charge of Support Services, speaking at the opening of the training, emphasized that the orientation was part of the Commission's strategies to equip the water guards with the requisite knowledge to understand their mandates to protect water bodies against illegal mining activities.
He stated that the orientation was designed to broaden their understanding of how to check the licences of those mining in their communities, helping to differentiate between legitimate small-scale mining operations and illegal ones, known locally as galamsey. Mr. Anyimah encouraged the participants to share the knowledge acquired with their colleagues to collectively combat illegal mining activities affecting forests and water bodies.
Colonel Dominic Buah, Director of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), addressed the participants about the mandate of the Secretariat, describing it as the central coordination point for all anti-galamsey activities. He highlighted the role of the blue water guards as integral to the value chain in the fight against illegal mining, urging them to carry out their duties with diligence and commitment. Col Buah advised the participants to resist any attempts of bribery and remain steadfast in helping the Secretariat achieve its objectives.
Mr. James Abaake, a participant, expressed his gratitude to the Minerals Commission for the training, noting that it would significantly enhance their ability to fulfill their mandates in ensuring that water bodies remain clean and safe for the community.
