Government Moves to Limit Mining in Forest Reserves with New Legislative Instrument

Accra: The Ghanaian Government, through the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, has introduced the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Revocation Instrument, 2024 to Parliament, aiming to curb mining activities in the nation's forest reserves. According to Ghana News Agency, the newly proposed Legislative Instrument (LI) is set to revoke the existing LI 2462, marking a significant step towards reducing the environmental impact of mining. Mr. Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business in Parliament, announced the introduction of the new LI during his welcome remarks on the parliamentary floor. Mr. Afenyo-Markin outlined that the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General's Department, had worked collaboratively to develop the new legislative measure. He emphasized the government's dedication to combating the illegal mining issue, commonly known as galamsey, which has been a persistent problem affecting the country's natural resources. Furthermore, the Majority Leader called on the citizens of Ghana to avoid politicizing the issue of galamsey, highlighting the importance of a united front in the fight against environmental degradation. This legislative development represents a critical step in the government's efforts to manage the exploitation of natural resources and preserve the ecological integrity of forest reserves across the nation.