President Mahama and Civil Society Decry Systemic Corruption as Nine Blue Water Guards Arrested in Galamsey Crackdown

On August 21, 2026, the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) arrested nine members of the Blue Water Guards (BWG) in Manso Adubia, Ashanti Region, on charges of bribery and impersonation. The suspects are alleged to have posed as NAIMOS officials to extort money from individuals involved in mining activities, prompting an immediate internal warning from BWG leadership. This incident has intensified the national debate over the integrity of Ghana’s multi-agency effort to eradicate illegal mining (galamsey), suggesting that the very units tasked with protection are being compromised by the lure of illicit profits.

The arrests coincide with grave allegations leveled against local government authorities by the Media Coalition Against Galamsey. Ing. Ken Ashigbey, the coalition’s convener, accused several Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) of actively facilitating illegal mining by collecting unauthorized fees from operators. A JoyNews investigation recently exposed a district assembly in the Ashanti Region that had established a "parallel taxation" system, essentially selling the right to pollute water bodies. President John Mahama has since acknowledged that this practice extends beyond a single district, prompting the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to direct a full investigation into these institutional failures.

Adding to the pressure, economic policy analyst Senyo Hosi has sharply criticized the government's progress, describing the current situation as a total failure of enforcement. Speaking on Joy News’ Newsfile, Hosi argued that while NAIMOS continues to report arrests and equipment seizures, the reality on the ground is one of persistent environmental degradation. He emphasized that the continued destruction of forest reserves and the decline in water quality and food security are evidence that current measures are not yielding positive outcomes, famously stating that the "nonsense must stop."

The intersection of security guard misconduct and alleged local government complicity presents a significant challenge for the Mahama administration. While the BWG has reiterated its commitment to professionalism and its specific mandate to protect river corridors, the public perception of the galamsey fight remains skeptical. As the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources begins its probe into the MMDAs, the government faces increasing calls for a total overhaul of the anti-illegal mining strategy to ensure that those in power are not the ones profiting from the nation's environmental crisis.