Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame has submitted the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) (Revocation) Instrument, 2024, to Parliament.
This new legislative instrument aims to revoke the existing L.I. 2462, which allowed mining activities in forest reserves. If approved, this revocation would mark a significant advancement in President Akufo-Addo’s ongoing efforts to address illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, which has become a pressing national issue with severe environmental consequences for Ghana.
The legislative action responds to calls from Organised Labour and other organizations urging the government to take decisive measures against illegal mining practices that are damaging Ghana’s forests and water resources.
The L.I. will be discussed in Parliament and could take effect after 21 sitting days, unless it is annulled by a two-thirds majority vote.
As Parliament reconvenes for its fifth meeting of the fourth session on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at the Accra International Conference Centre, the proposed revocation will be a key agenda item.
This meeting is particularly significant as the country confronts environmental degradation associated with mining activities, further underscoring the government’s commitment to protecting forest reserves.
The initiative highlights the government’s goal of balancing development with environmental preservation in response to growing concerns over harmful mining practices.
