The Media Coalition Against Galamsey and OccupyGhana have called on the Parliament of Ghana to immediately pass legislation to criminalize mining and mining-related activities in forest reserves across the country.

In a joint press statement released on Friday, November 17 2023, the two civil society groups also demanded the urgent repeal of the Legislative Instrument (L.I) 2462) which formed the basis for mining in forest reserves by parliament.

According to the Media Coalition Against Galamsey and OccupyGhana, there is an urgent need for the country to get specific legislation that would outlaw any mining activities in the country’s major forest reserve.

“We believe that Ghana needs a simple legislative fiat that says; WE DO NOT MINE OR DRILL IN OUR FOREST RESERVES. We therefore invite Parliament, as a matter of urgency, to pass an Act that forbids the grant of any mining or drilling permit, license or lease or any other associated activities in all forest reserves and significant biodiversity areas. This would mean revoking the so-called Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations (LI 2462), and the power it gives to the President to give written approval ‘to a mining company to undertake mining activity in a globally significant biodiversity area in the national interest”.
Media Coalition Against Galamsey and OccupyGhana

The statement further indicated that the existence of the Legislative Instrument (L.I) 2462 has ‘emboldened’ the recent applications from some mining companies to undertake mining activities in some of the country’s major forest reserves.

According to the group, any decision on the ‘cessation’ of forest reserves should first be made on the advice of the Forestry Commission and Lands Commission to ensure that the government does not ‘evade’ the aims of the proposed law by simply revoking the status of the current forest reserves.

Again, the Media Coalition Against Galamsey and OccupyGhana emphasized that before any decision to lease out a forest reserve to any mining company in the country ,it must be done through the approval of Parliament after a public hearing and engagement with the chiefs and the people of the area in question.

Calls For Revocation of Executive Instrument (E.I ) 144

Moreover, the Media Coalition Against Galamsey and OccupyGhana demanded the annulment of the ‘Cessation of Forest Reserve Executive Instrument (E.I) 144, 2022’ which was intended to revoke the forest reserve status of the Achimota Forest.

It therefore called for the amendment of the Forest Act, of 1927 (Cap 157) to take away the power of the President to issue Executive Instruments on forest-related matters.

Additionally, the two groups expressed deep concerns about the attempt by High Street Company Limited to seek permission to mine at the Kakum National Park.

According to the group, it is very worried about the development despite the Minerals Commission’s rejection of the application and assurance that it will not grant any permission for mining activities to be undertaken in the Kakum National Park.

“Like several well-meaning Ghanaians, OccupyGhana and the Media Coalition Against Galamsey were considerably concerned at the news that some mining rights had been granted or recognised over the Kakum Forest. We have noted the Minerals Commission’s undated letter, which said that indeed they had received such an application but had rejected it. That Press Release did not say whether the application was for a reconnaissance or prospecting licence or a mining lease, or whether this High Street Company had acquired other permits from either the Forestry Commission or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)”.
Media Coalition Against Galamsey and OccupyGhana

The statement highlighted the worrying trend of how mining operations have taken place in the country, particularly within forest reserves without the approval of the Minerals Commission, mostly by persons who often claim to have obtained other permits from the Forestry Commission or the Environmental Protection Agency.

The statement by the Media Coalition Against Galamsey and OccupyGhana comes in relation to reports that High Street Mining Company Limited applied for a license to mine in the Kakum National Park in the Central Region.