The government has announced its intention to revoke the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462), in a decisive move to address the environmental damage caused by illegal mining, or galamsey.
This decision, communicated by the Information Ministry, follows a high-level meeting between President Akufo-Addo and Organised Labour at Jubilee House on October 3, aimed at tackling the destruction of forest reserves and water bodies.
During the meeting, both the government and Organised Labour acknowledged the severe damage that illegal mining has inflicted on Ghana’s water bodies, forest reserves, and communities.
Several key agreements such as strengthening law enforcement agencies to effectively tackle galamsey were reached as part of renewed efforts to combat the menace. But one of the significant outcomes of the meeting was the government’s commitment to repeal the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462).
This law, which provided legal grounds for mining in forest reserves under certain conditions, will be revoked once Parliament resumes its next session on October 15. The regulation has allowed mining licenses to be granted in forest reserves, with exceptions for certain protected areas such as globally significant biodiversity zones and cultural sites.
Forest reserves like the Draw River, Neung South, Boin Tano, and Oda River Forest Reserves were granted mining licenses under the regulation. Presently, environmentalists and health professionals continue to raise alarms about the irreversible damage being caused by galamsey activities.
Government has reiterated its commitment to empower law enforcement agencies to intensify their crackdown on illegal mining operations in these protected zones.
Those caught engaging in galamsey activities will face full prosecution under the law, with Attorney-General Godfred Dame and Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo pledging to expedite the adjudication of galamsey-related cases. Judges have been issued a month ultimatum by the Attorney General to conclude galamsey-related cases before them.
