Nine personnel of the Blue Water Guards have been taken into custody over allegations that they impersonated officials of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) to solicit money from members of the public.
The personnel were reportedly arrested on Friday, August 21, after allegedly presenting themselves as NAIMOS officers while collecting bribes.
Following the arrests, the Blue Water Guards issued an internal notice cautioning its personnel against misrepresenting their mandate or assuming the identity of officials from other agencies.
The notice described the alleged conduct as a serious violation of professional standards, warning that such actions could undermine public confidence in the government’s efforts to combat illegal mining.
It made clear that members of the Blue Water Guards have no authority to operate as NAIMOS officials or claim to represent the Secretariat.
“All guards are hereby cautioned to desist from such acts and remain professional. No BWG is authorised to act as NAIMOS,” the notice stated.
The incident comes against the backdrop of operational cooperation between the two institutions in the fight against illegal mining. Blue Water Guards personnel have participated in joint operations with NAIMOS, including enforcement activities along river corridors in the Ashanti Region from the Manso Adubia base.
However, authorities have yet to establish the allegations against the nine personnel through the courts. It is also not immediately clear whether they have been formally charged.
The case is expected to further draw attention to the need for clear identification and accountability among personnel involved in Ghana’s anti-illegal mining operations.
