Fight Against Galamsey: Gov’t to revoke forest reserve mining law – Information Minister
In an effort to stop illegal mining, also known as galamsey, the government has decided to repeal the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462).
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed that the required actions be taken to revoke the regulation when Parliament reconvenes in October.
A statement signed by the Information Minister, Fatima Abubakar, said the government would ramp up its enforcement measures, particularly as it relates to prohibiting illegal mining in water bodies and forest reserves.
“Water bodies and forest reserves remain red zones for mining, and all forms of mining in water bodies, as well as reconnaissance, prospecting, exploration, and/or small-scale mining in forest reserves, remain banned. Law enforcement agencies of the state are fully mandated to rid our water bodies and forest reserves of all forms of mining,” the statement said.
It added that the Attorney-General will collaborate with the Chief Justice to ensure swift adjudication of illegal mining cases.
Meanwhile, organised labour is still set to embark on a strike on Thursday, October 10.
This follows a crucial meeting today to deliberate on the President’s request for more time to address their demands regarding the issue.
“We are of the view that what the government has proposed does not adequately address our demands, and therefore our notice of strike remains unchanged,” the leadership said.
On October 3, President Akufo-Addo made an appeal to Organised Labour during a meeting, asking them to reconsider the strike.
The president told labor leaders that his administration is committed to addressing the damage that illegal mining, or galamsay, causes to the environment.
He said that dealing with this urgent national issue required unity.
However, organized labor participants decided at today’s conference that the government’s assurance was insufficient.
On the back of this, “our notice of strike remains unchanged.”
In order to combat illicit mining, organized labor demanded that a state of emergency be declared, that L.I. 2462 be revoked, and that the military be sent to forest and water bodies.
Source: Adinkraradio.com