Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the environmental terrain, have called on the government to take immediate steps to repeal the law that gives access to mining in forest reserves.
By this call, the CSOs are asking for the revocation of the “Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulation, L.I 2462, which was passed by Parliament in November 2022.
The group noted that if the L.I is not revoked, it will accelerate the destruction of the already depleted forest.
They are, therefore, appealing to the Forestry Commission to cease granting forest entry license for mining and called on the Minerals Commission to revoke all mining licenses in forest reserves.
“There is real concern that L.I 2462 will accelerate destruction of our already highly depleted forest estate. The Forestry Commission must stop granting any Forest Entry Permits for mining in forest reserves, while the Minerals Commission should immediately revoke all mining licences in the reserves, beginning with those granted to irresponsible companies.
“The L.I 2462 must all be revoked and replaced with an act that bans all mining in forest reserves,” the group indicated at a press conference last Friday, a day Ghanaians were planting some 50 million seedlings to mark the Green Ghana Day.
The group is made up of A Roacha Ghana, Nature Development Foundation, Ecoconscious Citizens, Youth Alliance for Green Ghanaians and Ghana Youth Environment Movement.
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs in Accra, Mr Daryl Bosu, Deputy Director, A Roacha Ghana, observed that Ghana’s forest provides a critical ecosystem service and resources, including clean water to support the health and welfare of all Ghanaians.
He noted that communities and the whole of Ghana are being deprived of these benefits due to the mininig activities.
He made mention of the Apamprama forest reserve, the Subin Shelterbelt reserve among others, which are under great threat, as multiple licences have been granted to people to mine in the areas.
Mr Bosu noted that government can plant 500 billion trees every year, but if it does not take steps to stop people from mining in forest reserves, it can never bring back Ghana’s old forest.
He said the Green Ghana Day will amount to nothing if prospecting and mining in forest reserves are not curbed. “The forests must be fully protected from all mining, both government-licensed and galamsey, otherwise their integrity and capacity to Support life will soon be gone. Government’s Green Ghana Day can plant 300 billion trees every year, but it can never bring back Ghana’s old growth forests.
“Until government takes active steps to secure all forest reserves indeed, we reiterate that, Green Ghana Day will continue to be a green washing agenda by government to distract all of us from their terrible record of securing forests and biodiversity in Ghana”, Mr Bosu said.
He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to mount pressure on the government to do the right thing by revoking the L.I in order to safeguard the forest reserves.
