Galamsey fight: Same actors, different names – Dr. Addai Amanfo slams government over Blue Water Guards
Dr. Banabas Addai Amanfo, Lecturer at the Department of Educational Leadership at AAMUSTED.
A Lecturer at the Department of Educational Leadership at Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Dr. Banabas Addai Amanfo, has expressed skepticism about the government’s decision to fight illegal mining with Blue Water Guards.
According to Dr. Amanfo, this move shows a lack of commitment to combating the menace adding that ‘’it’s same approached used by previous administration saying it is same actors, different names’’
“Why are we doing this to ourselves as a country, the country keeps repeating the same process without erring any results?” he lamented.
Dr Amanfo said this on Kumasi based OTEC 102.9 FM’s morning show Nyansapo on Tuesday April 15, 2025 which was hosted by Kwaku Owusu- Boateng (KOA)
He believes the Blue Water Guards lack the capacity and strength to face illegal miners, making the decision wasteful.
“These illegal miners have not only armed themselves but are swimmers as well,” Dr. Amanfo noted, citing an instance where illegal miners saved a police officer who fell into the water at a galamsey site.
He questioned the effectiveness of the Blue Water Guards compared to the police, who have received better training and equipment.
Dr. Amanfo also questioned the government’s willingness to address the growing concerns about illegal mining, calling on authorities to be serious about the fight.
“Why are we doing this to ourselves as a country, the country keeps repeating the same process without erring any results?” he lamented.
The galamsey fight, according to Dr. Amanfo, has featured the same actors with different names, making the fight more of a political gimmick.
Ghana’s struggle with galamsey has been ongoing, with successive governments trying various approaches, including military interventions like Operation Halt and Operation Vanguard.
However, the problem persists, with devastating effects on the environment, including water pollution and deforestation.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Jacob Agyenim Boateng
