The Ghanaian government has started the process of rescinding Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which permits mining in forest reserves, in a major effort to stop illicit mining.
The government made this decision in response to strong pressure from a number of organizations, notably Organized Labor, which threatened to call for a national strike in the event that it did not move decisively to combat illegal mining.
Enacted in 2022, L.I. 2462 gave the Minerals Commission the authority to issue mining permits within forest reserves, with the exception of protected areas like as cultural sites and biodiversity areas. Nonetheless, detractors contend that extensive environmental damage and illicit mining are the results of the law’s lax enforcement.
A new legislative instrument, the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) (Revocation) Instrument, 2024, has been tabled to Parliament by Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame.
The purpose of this instrument is to nullify L.I. 2462 and outlaw mining in forest reserves.
If the revocation is not overturned by a two-thirds majority vote, it will take effect 21 sitting days after Parliament meets again.
In order to combat illegal mining, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced additional measures.
These include working with Organized Labour and other stakeholders to fight illegal mining, establishing special courts to prosecute operators of illegal mining, and deploying soldiers and law enforcement agencies to remove illegal miners from water bodies and forest reserves.
In the meantime, Organized Labor has canceled its intended walkout, citing the government’s dedication to meeting their requests.
The Ghanaian University Teachers Association (UTAG) has chosen to carry out its strike against galamsey, nevertheless.
Source: newsthemegh.com