Processes to Revoke Mining in Forest Reserves LI Begin
The government has taken the first step to revoke the Legislative Instrument (L.I) that authorises the mining of mineral resources in various forest reserves.
In a letter to the Clerk of Parliament dated October 10, the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General urged that time be scheduled for the laying of a new LI for the revocation.
“Please find attached, a copy of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) (Revocation) Instrument, 2024 which has been dated and signed by the Minister responsible for Environment. Kindly arrange for the Instrument to be laid in Parliament in accordance with clause (7) of article 11 of the Constitution.”
It comes after stakeholders including a group of research scientists with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) demanded the government repeal the law which has resulted in the depletion of a huge percentage of the country’s vegetative cover.
The recent demand came from Organised Labour, which has threatened to embark on an industrial action if the call was not heeded.
Meanwhile, the Government has reiterated its commitment to the fight against illegal small-scale mining.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
