By Francis Kobena Tandoh
Nine (9) members of the Blue Water Guards (BWGs) have been arrested 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 reportedly arrested on Friday, August 21, 2026, after allegedly collecting bribes while posing as NAIMOS personnel.
An internal notice to Blue Water Guards personnel described the alleged conduct as a serious breach of professional standards and warned that it could undermine the credibility of the anti-illegal mining programme.
The notice further stressed that Blue Water Guards are not authorised to operate as, or present themselves as, NAIMOS officials, stating: “No BWG is authorised to act as NAIMOS.”
The arrests come amid ongoing collaboration between NAIMOS and the Blue Water Guards in combating illegal mining, particularly around water bodies in the Ashanti Region.
The allegations against the nine suspects have not yet been established in court, and it remains unclear whether formal charges have been filed.
The Blue Water Guards are a specialized environmental protection and surveillance force in Ghana.
Launched in March 2025 by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources alongside the Minerals Commission, the initiative trains young men and women to combat illegal mining, loally known as ‘galamsey’ and protect major polluted river bodies like the Pra, Ankobra, and Tano.
Among its core duties is conducting daily patrols, tracking illegal mining sites, confiscating illicit equipment, and driving community sensitization.
They work hand-in-hand with the Ghana Navy, police, and regional administrative bodies to secure river basins. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
