Leading environmental group, A Rocha Ghana, has joined forces with six other civil society organisations to sue the government of Ghana over illegal mining activities in forest reserves, also known as ‘galamsey’.
The coalition, which includes Kasa Ghana, Eco-Conscious Citizens, Tropenbos, Nature and Development Foundation, Civic Response, and Media Coalition Against Galamsey, is deeply concerned about the devastating impact of mining in these protected areas.
Despite the passage of the LI 2462 in 2022, permitting mining in forest reserves, the group says that has resulted in widespread destruction of Ghana’s forest reserves and threatens the livelihoods of many.
Daryl Bossu, the Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, in an emergency press briefing at their head office in Accra Friday, September 20, 2024, noted that they aim to secure an injunction to stop mining and its prospecting in forest reserves to protect the environment.
He noted that the group’s suit will challenge the legality of LI 2462.
“The Minerals Commission is still accepting applications to mine in forest reserves as recently as August 2024. Our case challenges the legality of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, that LI 2462 which we believe was laid in Parliament without the mandatory physical impact analysis in violation of the Public Financial Management Act.
“This failure to follow due process renders the regulation null and void,” Mr. Bossu stated.
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